Even if it worked perfectly, this kind of thing is probably very time sensitive and short lived. Did it still work on the very next years model of phone? I thi

Even if it worked perfectly, this kind of thing is probably very time sensitive and short lived. Did it still work on the very next years model of phone? I think there are weaknesses all over the place still today, and wide variation between manufacturers and price points, but I assume the details change and get harder all the time, or at least change, making an example from 10 years ago of limited interest today, UNLESS the same thing also still worked today. Another aspect of that would be how the tools on both sides progress not just one side. A casual photograph from a common camera or phone from a reasonable distance today having a lot more information in it for instance. Or maybe other tools like fabricating a physical model from data by 3d printing etc, where the tools are both better and more readily available so the bar is lower even if the fundamental process is the same. That difference alone may make things go from possible to practical.