The challenge is building networked applications and systems that work across the enterprise , taking into account the constraints of new and old systems alike. We are still on a quest for distributed computing, and we haven't crossed the moat. They've all been around for years. It's not that they're so revolutionary. It's that they've matured and are solidifying.
Real change comes slowly because inertia is a powerful force.
There's something else at work. Developing the technology is difficult, yes, but implementing the technology into a reliable and cost-effective system that coexists with everything that already exists is even harder. It's like trying to jump onto a slowly moving train. You can do it, but you have to be agile and measured in your approach. Moore's law of microprocessor capacity has influenced more than networking.