It's interesting to think about what media forms felt full-blown coming out of the gate, and what didn't. I'm no expert, but my gut feeling is that radio felt pretty full-formed, as opposed to, say, film. Print books, maybe; personal computers, definitely not.
I'm talking feeling here, not reality
What's interesting - and I think lots of people would agree with this - we all *knew* it was ugly. I think it's an interesting lesson, either in contrast to or complement to, other cultural/technological developments: the wonder wrapped inside the vague feeling of disappointment.
Radio started out hobbyist, then moved to a (mostly imagined) public service, and only in the 1930s settled into being a recognizably fully commercial form (that still maintained elements of its public service roots).
