The future of 32-bit Linux

Applications that would have difficulty moving to a 64-bit time_t, typically for object-size and alignment in legacy protocols, can often be recompiled to use an unsigned 32-bit value there, taking them up into 2106. So, a 32-bit kernel, typically forked from 2.6 or 3.x and with unsigned 32-bit time_t, is a viable alternative for rescuing legacy embedded uses.

Probably by 2106 the machines will be responsible for coding, and it will then be their problem; or, civilization might collapse, so any people remaining will have bigger worries. Or (best case) both.