The past may be simpler but that doesn't mean that the past was better. I could change the brushes on an old Lionel motor to make the engine run better. I can't repair a circuit board or a can motor in a modern engine. I need to replace the board or the motor if they fail.
However, my modern engines with circuit boards and can motors run much better and are much more fun for me than the the older engines. The work required to design a circuit board and program it can't be done without a special education. High tech tools are required to build the board. Yes, our society isn't as hands on as in the past but I think that the tradeoff is worth it. NH Joe
