Comment by RetroTechie

> Are switching PSUs more expensive to produce than linear ones?

They were, back in the day.

Around the time the Apple II came out, a (linear) power supply wasn't cheap, but robust. And machines like it were way more expensive than its PS. The complexity of a switcher would affect that cost ratio. So few manufacturers bothered to make the PS as small or efficient as it could be.

But computers became cheaper, some more power-hungry, switching PS designs advanced (and cut down weight, size & the amount of copper needed), and markets grew. And effiency became a thing (see eg. EU regulations). So the economics made switcher designs trickle down to ever smaller & smaller power supplies.

(the latter is still ongoing btw)