>There's a point where a device's insane amount of computational capability has to be balanced with usability given its available inputs.
Exactly the same could have been said 40 years ago. Computers have (almost) always been outperforming humans and certain tasks, even if just calculus. The increase in capabilities due to more computation power has been happening constantly for several decades. It lead to some revolutions in terms of human-computer interaction, like the switch from text-based UIs to graphical ones.
The challenge of spreading between simplicity, discoverability, and capabilities has always been around, just the topics are shifting over the years. The reason for the decline in user-friendliness as in the article lies in the motivation of companies building software: They expect higher returns by oversimplifying things (as plain-looking sells easier), or nagging users about registration (as they can send promotional content later), even though they're perfectly aware about the usability trade-off.
Exactly the same could have been said 40 years ago. Computers have (almost) always been outperforming humans and certain tasks, even if just calculus. The increase in capabilities due to more computation power has been happening constantly for several decades. It lead to some revolutions in terms of human-computer interaction, like the switch from text-based UIs to graphical ones.
The challenge of spreading between simplicity, discoverability, and capabilities has always been around, just the topics are shifting over the years. The reason for the decline in user-friendliness as in the article lies in the motivation of companies building software: They expect higher returns by oversimplifying things (as plain-looking sells easier), or nagging users about registration (as they can send promotional content later), even though they're perfectly aware about the usability trade-off.