Yes, this is very much what I found interesting; beside the normalization of speed of light/rationalization and the quibble in the talk pages over it. The 1800

Yes, this is very much what I found interesting; beside the normalization of speed of light/rationalization and the quibble in the talk pages over it. The 1800's were a very interesting time. I wish I could hear the conversations between the 'electro-static-magnetic-aether-types' arguing. From your question on what they knew.... I've asked myself similar questions and I think at the very least... the method of measurement and let alone the method of units used influences a type of thinking, which further biases interpretations and understandings. Similarly, Maxwell's equations are usually displayed in a 'reformatted form' which loses a certain perspective in the core inception of the monumental work. When systems fold other systems, a lot of nuance can get lost and at a huge detriment to the sense making over the factor of convenience.