This thread and the discussions prompted me to try and write an 'essay' about the 'old' and 'new' worlds of telecomms.
It is not finished but is just a draft and very much a 'work in progress'. It totaly peters out towards the end, due to fatigue. However I offer a link to it here none the less in the chance that it might be considered interesting to some.
A warning however if 'essays' are not to your tastes then it most definately is not for you
http://www.visionmatters.co.uk/oldandnew.htm