"One significant phenomenon at that time was that commodity hardware was progressing much faster than had been anticipated, in the end eclipsing the specialized

"One significant phenomenon at that time was that commodity hardware was progressing much faster than had been anticipated, in the end eclipsing the specialized designs that were being worked on." This is exactly what happened. A slow language like Prolog on OK hardware that accelerates it can't compete with a fast language like (not-Prolog) on highly-custom, top-of-the-line hardware that accelerates it. It can't in the general case and plenty times not in the special case. Now, that was when Moore's Law was in full swing. There's potential now for that pendulum to swing in reverse for something like this.