Isn't "not knowing how to type in a URL" what the web was supposed to be like? The URL:s were supposed to be a behind-the-scenes thing; the users were just supposed to navigate hypertext? Instead URL:s ended up front and center, and we got monstrosities like a domain name for a single movie, because that's the only way of making a short-enough-to-remember URL.

Also, not knowing what application to open a PDF with... isn't that what we have tried to turn user interfaces into ever since someone invented the document metaphor?