Strong disagree that it hasn't evolved; modern advances in materials and modeling mean drivers have wider ranges and lower distortion. Modern DSP can extend the low frequency response even further than just porting, and provide a crossover more tuned to the specific drivers used than is practical with analog components, or even correct for room modes. And we know way more about controlling off-axis dispersion than we did in the 80s.

Which especially means that small speakers can be way better than similar sized speakers were in the 80s, kinda relevant when you're using them for a computer. Though, maybe less true at $100.