> So: loss of technology is not impossible. But to an innovative and large culture like modern human civilization, it’s not really something that happens. It’s just a fun trope for stories. Let’s hope it remains that way.

I agree with “let’s hope it remains that way.” But you may be underestimating the fragility of modern human civilization and all the systems that are so effective at preserving knowledge. At the scale of history, most of our technology has only existed for the blink of an eye. It would not take much, really, for all this to go away.

Absent the internet, power grid, and other systems of global infrastructure, absent anyone to take care of the libraries (which are falling out of favor), absent an authority to gather together all the experts with their tightly focused specializations, absent the chip fabs and the global supply network, how exactly do you build a computer? Or even something as “simple” as a pencil?