Creating HMDs with an angular resolution sufficient for being a screen substitute, is still a work in progress. Otherwise, I image what you describe might have

Creating HMDs with an angular resolution sufficient for being a screen substitute, is still a work in progress. Otherwise, I image what you describe might have happened. The available market was gaming. With its emphasis on "presence", high frame rates, high polygon counts, dislike of visual artifacts and blur, and tolerance of low angular resolution. And even now, as parts become available to create a better screen substitute, the market isn't seen as worth pursuing yet. But 2018 should see a higher-resolution generation of gaming HMDs. And there's Varjo to watch/hope for, though it will be $10k-ish.