And before software became a hobbyist pursuit (with the advent of the PC and the home computer) it was entirely the world of large enterprises and governments. Think large main frames and minicomputers: IBM or Burroughs or DEC. It was also a different age.

>software became a hobbyist pursuit

Maybe only possible once you could finally own a whole "system" single-handedly and do whatever you wanted, for the first time ever.

Perhaps the fundamental concepts of "owning" your own and doing whatever you want with it have been allowed to dwindle so badly it seems like no comparison.