In an email from me to John Dvorak on the intrinsic value of computers for the common man.

“One of the things “we're really getting from them” is zero man-hour edit-ability. Spreadsheets, word processing and graphics programs are examples that allow us to change what we are working on and have virtually instantaneous feedback of that change. A corollary to this is that we can (and should) keep a running record of these changes through “undo” and sequential saves. This allows us to back track and choose a new “what if”. For many of us lesser mortals this is a fundamental and incredibly empowering aspect of computing. I find it amazing how often this is overlooked or given little importance. It is the creative air that many of us breathe and is taken for granted until absent or labored. This single aspect of the technology is enough to make the entire computing revolution substantive.”