Platform VS Niche

I am hoping this will be treated as more of a discussion instead of an answer to a question because it's one that should be given consideration to.

There are 2 types of businesses and all of us here have the option to be involved in either type. There are:

1. Niche businesses: where you serve a market that isn't currently being served. It is based on a micro-trend and your reputation or aggressiveness of sales, coupled with an un-met need in your area or industry.

2. Platforms: Microsoft and Google are platform businesses. The majority of people cannot, or don't want to, program a computer's operating system every time they turn on a computer - that's why Microsoft made its billions offering a visual operating system that people can use more intuitively. Now almost every computer sale has Microsoft software built into the price, unless you buy a used one.

Google is attempting to do the same thing with the internet. Google wants you to go through them every time you use the internet. No longer do we live in a time where we memorize and bookmark websites - because Google has given us a platform that makes it too easy not to use.

And here we all are learning coding and knowledge. Knowledge of technology, I believe, is the leveler of the playing field. Now we have a chance to compete with businesses just like them. What will you do with what you learn? How should we change the world? What do you think?