[HumblyTossed]

> I wonder if 1998 was just when the control system project finished, having been planned and started several years prior.

Probably this. Probably they got the plans worked up in 1990, but didn't finish everything until 1998.

[rootusrootus]

I'd say they must have started closer to 1980. By the time we had the 286, most PCs came with a hard drive, and 1990 was the era of the 486.