What's different now: * Better BFT algorithms (e.g. lower network load, more reliable in practice) * Faster computers * Better computer networks * Cheaper s

What's different now: * Better BFT algorithms (e.g. lower network load, more reliable in practice) * Faster computers * Better computer networks * Cheaper storage * Better software development and deployment practices (faster, more reliable, more secure) * and yes, the recent interest in BFT spurred by Bitcoin. For example, the original algorithms had network load that was exponential in the number of nodes, O(2^N). Some newer non-POW algorithms are O(N*polylog(N)).