I agree with your overall point, but I don't think that we'd be able to get the telephone 50 years earlier because of how many other industries had to align to

I agree with your overall point, but I don't think that we'd be able to get the telephone 50 years earlier because of how many other industries had to align to allow for its invention. Insulated wire didn't readily or cheaply come in spools until after the telegraph in the 1840's. The telephone was in 1876 so 50 years earlier was 1826.