I dunno about anyone else, but THIS particular small business will continue to purchase the necessary tools to do the job. Hand tools, power tools, computers, the new Ford diesel dually tow rig, the backhoe (gotta break fiber somehow!) ... hardware in general.

Tools are still a write-off, after all's said and done.

As for software, other than the one box that runs AutoCAD on Win2K (and was paid for 9 years ago, with a couple upgrades since), we only use FOSS and in-house stuff.

Any business that skimps on tools "because they are expensive" are not worth doing business with. In my opinion, of course.