All of the early Internet companies I worked at were like that, up until roughly 2000: public IPs direct on the desktop. My 90's home network was also like that

All of the early Internet companies I worked at were like that, up until roughly 2000: public IPs direct on the desktop. My 90's home network was also like that. I had a /24 block from the old class C "swamp" space. I still have it, actually. It's legacy space, no ARIN fees.