Yes, really. I was fortunate enough to be able to access the internet during the 90s. Was exposed to Geocities, webrings, and IRC mainly (the heyday of BBSes were juuust before I had access). Before Google, it was a real magical time when you never knew what lay in store as you surfed the information superhighway's hyperlinks. The "Old Internet" ruled.
In my opinion, the Fediverse is both like that, and unlike that. The idea of federation is really close to the unsiloed feel of the before times, yet we know much more about connectivity now than ever before. There's definitely magic in having something for the first time which you cannot 100% replicate even with something innovative.
But I have to admit the Fediverse does have that Brave New World feel (the concept, not the novel).
You seem to know a lot about putting boxes in bathrooms (for cooling purposes).
Great comment.