[Alex3917]

"Ethernet and laser all those amazing tech was created by private companies and computer networks were created by enthusiast before DARPA."

But would we ever have actually had the Internet before DARPA? It took over 30 years before the Internet actually became a mainstream and profitable thing. If the net had been developed by private companies then they would have done it in such a way that would have let them become profitable within a year or two, so it's unlikely that the net would be anything like what it is today. And for all it's flaws, it's hard to imagine it being better if it were developed by private industry.

[eli]

I feel confident that some form of interconnected global computer network was inevitable. I don't know if it would be better, but surely it would exist.

And there are many examples of private companies pioneering something new even if it takes huge upfront resources and years of planning.