> This is provided by the aforementioned machines-as-characters, not just because they reliably perform their basic duties, but also because they're physical ev

> This is provided by the aforementioned machines-as-characters, not just because they reliably perform their basic duties, but also because they're physical evidence of what other humans could accomplish, people who weren't consumed by doubt, fear, and mistrust. I never seen it that way before! Some things reliably melt into the background, but MAGI was not predictable in EoE, it performed its duties with no problems until it was featured as an attack vector, the weapons against angels were reliably useless unless Eva were involved, and sudden power surges could also occur to make estimated reliability/functions work better. A lot was in the background and I never thought of it that way, but the problems I mentioned are when the reliability goes awry.