I don’t think it’s that easy.
Interactivity only possible for most at small scale.
You’re overlooking the real OG of the internet: usenet, irc and bulletin board systems (bbs).
The internet has always needed an “easy access” place to communicate, ask questions, or joke around - with a broad audience from around the world.
Of course, gopher, ftp, and http - did exactly as you said: serve static content.
But the internet has always needed a place for “dynamic” conversation and it’s these places that are overran with bots.


I totally agree.
I am so tired of this “slow boil”, bs.