The tech stuff on your pre-2006 list brings to mind the phrase “The future is here, but it’s not evenly distributed yet.”

Those things technically existed, a few of them were in their infancy, but for the most part they hadn’t reshaped society yet.

I knew I recognized their username. You should check out this gem.

how Mario Paint would play on an emulator, on pc, with a modern optical mouse

Or if you have a Switch with an online subscription, Mario Paint is included with the SNES games, and you can plug in any USB mouse.

I know what you mean about Gold and Silver. Everything you mentioned, plus events that happened on specific days of the week, “mystery gift” functionality via IR, and more stuff I’m forgetting. There were also radio stations you could “listen” to (read text) that made the world feel alive.

Even in gen 1, trading/battling revived link-cable culture, which I’d only ever seen people use for Tetris, years before.

Ouch.