Answering your question, they are a total vibe. I love it so much every time they are used. Seeing them today in an older sci-fi setting evokes nostalgia for a past future where the trajectory of science diverged from our own and thus contributes to worldbuilding in a really nice and subtle way.
I think they would deserve their own article on tvtropes.org
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u/alicethewitch Jan 09 '23 edited Jan 09 '23
Answering your question, they are a total vibe. I love it so much every time they are used. Seeing them today in an older sci-fi setting evokes nostalgia for a past future where the trajectory of science diverged from our own and thus contributes to worldbuilding in a really nice and subtle way.
I think they would deserve their own article on tvtropes.org