It /is/ amazing the progress we've seen in our lifetimes. I remember life before the web (http) was invented, before mobile phones (much less smartphones) became commonplace.
Some of the supposed 'progress' is really regression---like the number of people who economically could productively use computers but think a mainstream smartphone can let them do the same things. Sure, they can web browse, access online banking, ticketing, commerce, and other services through apps, but they usually miss out on the entire creative and productive side of computing.
However, I don't just blame technology. At least in Occidental countries, we tell ourselves we're consumers, vocabulary that hides the fact we're also producers/creators in our work. But it fits a mechanistic view of society, and works well with the central planners Utopian pretensions.
I love hearing of projects like the OPs---breathing new life into unused machines.