[comrade1]

Like myself, the enthusiasm that you felt may have had more to do with yourself not yet developing a healthy sense of skepticism for technology than the usefulness of the technology itself.

I can definitely see some uses for it - architectural walkthroughs for example. But using it for creating a virtual store would just get in the way of doing any shopping.

[anom9999]

Oh I didn't think it would replace HTML. For me the appeal was because VRML was the closest thing we had to the 3D rendered remote mainframe logins that Hollywood hacker films loved to show off.

Running around a VR modelled web page made me feel like the Lawnmower Man or Joey hacking into the Ellingson Mineral Company supercomputer (well, maybe not Joey specifically because he was a n00b)

[wlesieutre]

Confirmed for architectural walkthroughs! The lab I worked at in college used VRML for some interactive building models on a rear projected 3-screen polarized 3D setup. Pretty fun stuff.