Looking back now the publishing industry around home computers was a whole world in itself. And in general, the nerdy publishing world was something to behold. Instead of websites we had weekly paper digests like "Practical Electronics", "Wireless World", "Electronic Music Maker".
We also had an electronic component shop in every town, even before Tandy (Radio Shack) and Maplins most places a "radio repairs store". Going to the shop to buy some BC108s, a 555 timer, and a list of caps and resistors was where pocket money went.
I think there is something else going on for the retro-wave generation. who cannot possibly be nostalgic, since they didn't live through that. Instead the relative simplicity and accessibility of old tech has an appeal. When a 12 year old can understand the entire system (yes full schematics), program it and build peripherals with components from the high-street, it felt like an entirely different relationship with technology.