I take it more to mean "people who have to be technically inclined to a degree to get online in the 90s" don't really exist as a category that is self-selecting.

The other thing you mention is huge, too, of course. All the "famous" things from the 90s were basically labours of love by individual hackers who then looked for ways to fund it. Now everything is all about ad-revenue dollars.

If you're in the 15-25 nerdy computer demographic that waxes lyrical about the latest window mangaer, you are likely to be going into an insanely high paid job for a major corporation. The computer thing you are nerdy about is normal, you're more like a car or football nerd now - being in depth in a common subject

GenX-ers and Millenials who have been in tech a long time are likely doing OK financially, but are also likely at the age where they have kids which eat up a huge fraction of their disposable income.

Historically, advertisers have really loved late teens and early 20-somethings. They're starting to earn money, but don't have a lot of obligations or expenses yet, so they have a lot of discretionary income.

I also disagree that being into computers is a "common subject" these days. Everyone uses computers (some of which have keyboards), but most people aren't "into" them any more than the average commuter is into cars.

Which is just what I said.

Everyone uses computers, so computer nerds are like car nerds or sport nerds.

In the 90s very few people used computers, and even fewer used networked computers outside of an office environment. Computers were new and unique.

You still get car nerds and computer nerds, but it's not the same thing when they're nerdy about a common thing.

Ah, I get your point now. Thanks for clarifying.