[provolone]

I agree with your observation, but I digress on the historical narrative.

The Roman citizenry willingly gave up their empire to 'barbarian hordes'. The following periods of relative decentralization (middle ages) gave way to greater advancement.

The open west gave way to the gilded age. Likewise, many a webmaster has lamented the era of walled gardens in the same vein as the obsolete cowboy: "Don't fence me in"

Centralized control is a recurring theme, but decentralization is the opposing position of the pendulum. Just as relevant, but not widely celebrated by institutional gatekeepers.

I suggest that the decentralized phase is where value and innovation is created.