SCADA (Supervisory control and data acquisition) goes back to the 50s with, yes, remote access. Security has never been a design factor (after all, how many people had mainframes in the 50s?).

So yes, from very early in the design process.

There's internet-connected industrial control panels online where you can just connect to them on your browser or some tool and start clicking buttons.

it's probably just convenient because there's no auth or VPNs required. yippee!