Murdoc

Flashing back to Red Planet.

Somebody call Tom Selleck!

Runaway as well, but without the mall.

"You are illegally parked on private property. You have twenty seconds to move your vehicle." -ED-209

They have a series on Gates too.

The answer to OPs question is that these people they admired were just as bad, just better at PR. Unless you think that social media has had some kind of positive effect in outing these newer bastards. Being young and naive may also have been a factor (which I can personally attest to since I was a fan of MS back in the 90s before I learned about them).

Ah yes, the ol' "promoted to the level of their incompetence". SOP. Or SNAFU, take your pick.

...invade everyone's privacy instead.

Sounds pricey. Discs are cheap.

I'd guess that the down votes weren't because it wasn't true, but rather simply that the fact made them unhappy. Not the best use of down votes, but understandable.

Which has its own downside, that being the up-front cost.

"Press Play on tape."

(makes lunch)

"File found. Loading..."

(takes a bath, goes for a walk, reads a book...)

Ah the memories...

But where to store it all now?