I don't get the comment feeling sorry for the technicians at this machine's shortcomings. It's good that Intel etc didn't help this power hungry superpower to take over the world as they wanted to.
So, the other power-hungry superpower took over the world.
Ask the Afghanis, Iraqis, etc. how they like it. And eventually ask yourself - after the consumerism bubble pops / the petrocollapse takes place.