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Given no Internet back then, at least as impressive I'd say.

I wouldn't be so sure. There were other sources of information like computer magazines, newsletters and clubs.

Most computers back then also came with very detailed manuals, so you could go far without the need of external documentation.

The Internet brings a lot of distractions as well you didn't have to deal with back then.

This is true, but speaking only for myself, I got a lot less done then, and it was really hard to get information. I managed to get data and manuals on my Spectravideo 728 only after most of my friends had already switched to Amigas and Ataris :-)

The BBS scene then improved the availability of information for those who could afford modems and minutes!

6502 instruction set nowhere near as powerful as 8086, so I'd say more impressive! I was a ZX81 then Lynx coder myself, so learned Z80 rather than 6502.

i'm impressed