Not to take anything away from docker being a decent tool in some circumstances - but really this methodology has been around in one implementation for ages on Unix platforms.
What would be a good comparison for a component company like this getting to 100s of millions or $1b?
No, its not the first time any technologies with _some_ these types of capabilities have been available, but it is the first time this powerful combination of those capabilities have come together in a way that has so much momentum.
I would ask - why is it now that it's actually being used outside of the few boutique scenarios that came before?
I personally think it's a change at various levels of the industry (from the speed of ideation->delivery, inefficiency in process, dc consolidation, efficiency/density) and Docker is an integral piece in helping alleviate those problems