Well, I don't think what I said was harsh, but often people think I am harsh - because they say so.

>Electronics is his obsession.

Great - is he interested in electrical engineering? Perhaps he would be interested in learning to use a gate array. Perhaps he should have a way to explore electronics more deeply without messing with other people's property. There are options at every level. Perhaps this could be channeled constructively? Does he like physics? Lots of great physics demos on the net for electricity/magnetism, which relates to electronics.

Tangential - I also need to channel my obsessions constructively. Right now I'm kind of hooked on that jigidi puzzle site that was recommended to you. I am analyzing what is so entrancing there. It's something to do with images and comparing colours and lines - contrasts. Maybe I will pick up a paintbrush again, but for now I am creating puzzles like a demon. (Not so much doing them, but that is also tempting.)