So thick client applications get the last laugh in the end? It reminds me of an old concept, that has a catchy name I can't recall, positing an endless cycle i

So thick client applications get the last laugh in the end? It reminds me of an old concept, that has a catchy name I can't recall, positing an endless cycle in systems evolution where local peripherals grow processing capability until someone notices and (re)centralizes it, only for the local processing capability to quietly begin growing again, and so on.