Underrated comment. Though the "worth it" bit is the trick.

In my estimation these older parts that "just werk" should be getting inherited and iterated on as a public good.

The idea that means of production should phase into public trust tends to get everyone in a tizzy though. I'd like to see a public "foundry of last resort" that focuses on being able to make anything.

Not completely sure on this one, for example how the Romans had better concrete than we have now, even despite all of our scientific advancements

We know how they did it, it just does not scale, because it is not worth it causing a volcano every time we need some more ash.