I think that the fact that so many of those organizations haven't (in the past) jumped onto it, is probably part of why Wikipedia turned out as well as it did.

I think that the fact that so many of those organizations haven't (in the past) jumped onto it, is probably part of why Wikipedia turned out as well as it did. It's run by those who mostly care about Wikipedia, rather than some other organization. But as to your first point: definitely. It is the equivalent of the Library at Alexandria in ancient times; a step function rise in the information actually available to people.