The idea of the internet pervaded well before most people knew about the actual internet. There were BBSs with federated mail networks and big online services l

The idea of the internet pervaded well before most people knew about the actual internet. There were BBSs with federated mail networks and big online services like AOL and Compuserve. There was also much talk of a singular "information superhighway". Had the actual internet not been around, a unified online service would have eventually emerged, likely after much bloody competition and buyouts. It would have been initially tyrannical but eventually tamed by regulation, much like other utilities. It never would have been as cool as the internet. So, I guess the answer is no, an open, decentralized internet was not inevitable. We got lucky.