It's interesting to ask why people didn't understand the importance of compatibility at first. One reason could be the tendency to disregard the cost of softwa

It's interesting to ask why people didn't understand the importance of compatibility at first. One reason could be the tendency to disregard the cost of software, which is a mistake people still make today. But there was also another factor back then: computer hardware was very expensive. It is understandable to think that, if you're going to spend a gigantic pile of money on computer equipment, then it needs to be the absolute best computer equipment you can get. I think wanting to squeeze the most value out of your investment could explain why buyers and manufacturers were willing to sacrifice compatibility.