when you don't have access to usable math > have you ever tired multiplying 5 digit roman numerals together? it severely limits your engineering options as a result, you tend to stick with what works and to overbuild the fuck out of everything, a good example of this is pre-computer autos > every joint has a grease point > unlimited mile lifespan if maintained properly > wood, chrome, steel, indestructible vinyl and plastics > simple and robust > lasts for decades in the elements > if you're skeptical, remember that there were cabs from the fucking 50's running all over nyc well into the 90's ... the myth of old cars being less reliable is because most people didn't autistically change their oil and apply rust protection and steam-clean engine carbon and use gas detergents etc, good cars were reasonably priced, used cars were cheap, and newer cars were better than last year's model newer cars are more reliable if neglected but inevitably have some electronic module fail and brick or all the plastic crumbles to dust, we're seeing this with 80's and 90's cars right now since that's when the complex super thin molded toy-like plastics took hold, you won't see hardly any cars made in the past 5 years hit 30 years of age since all the parts and software will be phased out and be too complex to reproduce independently, not to mention drm and ip locks autism over ... so, the less precise math you have, the harder it is to build "to spec" so that the product fails 0.001 seconds after warranty as we're seeing now with tech, cars, etc. romans had shit math but a strong will and centuries of engineering knowledge via experiment, so everything was insanely overbuilt
Hippie