As the government acknowledges, courts operate on precedent. So if the FBI wins this time, it means it is more likely to win the next.
This year, a favorable ruling could decide whether laptop cameras can be conscripted as spies or smartphones become permanent homing beacons.
In a year or two, the same ruling may have set laid the groundwork for whether your car becomes your police van or your home becomes your holding cell.
The Guardian: Beyond surveillance: what could happen if Apple loses to the FBI »