If you really look at this history of computing (back at least to the 1970's or so), you see that very many things go in cycles like that. Certain concepts come into vogue, become the rage, lose steam, are replaced by something else, then come back, become the rage, lose steam... lather, rinse, repeat.
Why exactly this happens is an interesting question. I don't know the answer, but I have a vague suspicion that it happens where there is a fundamental, ultimately unresolvable conflict, and the "answers" just oscillate around the central issue.
Why exactly this happens is an interesting question. I don't know the answer, but I have a vague suspicion that it happens where there is a fundamental, ultimately unresolvable conflict, and the "answers" just oscillate around the central issue.