You're overestimating anyone's ability to spend years trying to hack a single target with documentation that likely no longer exists when there are likely both easier and more profitable targets out there.
Re:We Need Software Updates Forever
by selfhoster11 on Thursday September 23, 2021 @06:39PM
(#28636482)
The documentation and software is still extant if you know where to look, including in archives created specifically for this purpose. If I didn't have either of those, then obviously I couldn't get very far.
Re:We Need Software Updates Forever
by 123pie123 on Thursday September 23, 2021 @04:28AM
(#28626604)
you're right, I personally think the more people who have this way of thinking the better. but the number of people who can be motivated to do this stuff along with the time required is a much smaller group
I've done my fair share of reverse engineering machinecode in the past - I do see it as a puzzle to be solved
You're underestimating young people's ability to grasp and enjoy obsolete technologies. I am personally fascinated with DOS and Palm OS despite definitely not being around to witness their heydays. Give me a few years and the binaries/manuals people had back in the day, and I will hack it one way or another.