Good DM’s don’t coddle players. There are consequences to choices, being at 75-80% of the parties ability SHOULD be a big deal.
OP has tried to address the issue already, and I can imagine that one player ignoring their abilities would be quite frustrating for the other players.
You’re probably right, right now.
But I am put in mind of ya boi Ben Franklin when asked “What use is [a prototype hot air balloon]”
He replied "What is the use of a newborn child?"
Early plastic 3d printers were clunky and of poor quality, but now entire industries have spawned around them and they have revolutionised at-home prototyping.
Right now, this is a gimmick. But the potential, if nurtured is pretty serious, imo.
It’s easier to ship material than finished chunks.
You can print all the shapes you need from one batch of material instead of having to fabricate and ship the correct modules.
No one outside of the UK includes Ireland in the British Isles.