I'm new to home brewing, but I recently wrote a blog about similar devices to the Picobrew system that you might be interested in taking a look at. It's on my new blog,
Brewing by NightI think these automated home brewing machines are good for people who want to brew their own beer but don't have the patience for making it from scratch. Oginme has a good point; the devices certainly would appeal to those who simply want to drink a beer they've 'made'.
The machines take the complexity out of the brewing process, but they're also taking away any opportunity to get creative because you end up with a machine that can only do one thing. I likened them to Nespresso machines that take away the art of a barista.
It makes me wonder about the motives of those who use the machines. If they wanted something on their bench top that quickly brews a beer with little fuss and ready to drink, why wouldn't they just go to a shop and buy something already bottled? I guess is that it's the same reason people by bread making machines?