The Democrats aren’t going to “save you”. They like having the Boogeyman of Trump or <insert crazy Republican> to get you to vote in “the most important election in our lifetime”.
Don’t get me wrong, Trump and the Republicans will do more damage socially, but the Democrats couldn’t/didn’t/won’t stop that even when they control(ed) the White House, House of Representative, and the Senate.
I was reading your wall of text chomping at the bit to complain about IRQs and dip switches but you covered even that!
Oh wait, you didn’t include having a math coprocessor daughter boards! I barely remember them but remember my dad building computers with them.
I kinda wish I was a teen when the first computer kits were coming out. And phone phreaking.