Heck they practically missed the internet. Gates himself thought it was a fad. They aren’t an innovator, they just see what other people have come up with, and then either buy it or do another one just like it.
Built my first PC in 1982. Did lots of Ham homebrew before that. But it was my daughter in here 2nd year in college who introduced me to the web. She took me to the library on campus so I could help her with an Architecture project, while we were there she put me in front of the web of that day. At the time I was doing bulletinboard stuff but no internet. I was hopelessly hooked.
Take the TV out of my house, I would not miss it. (wife would) I could live off the grid easily, (wife could not) BUT if you took the web away, I would be in deep withdrawl. And probably would again spend time on my Ham equipment again.