[blt]

Survivorship bias at work.

Unix was a reaction against failed complex designs. So was the F-16, maybe a better example in military aviation because the SR-71 had such a unique purpose.

Popular and complex things from that era have been forgotten: PL/1, the VAX instruction set, overuse of manifold vacuum to power car accessories.

One can hope that simplicity comes in waves. Complexity is popular right now.

[Gravityloss]

SR-71 was indeed extremely complex and expensive to operate. They got rid of it as soon as they could.

There are good free books available of the subject. Just looking at the amount of heat management and the required systems and heat exhchangers...