>>I think that one requirement of being a better product is that it's still around, though.
>
>So you think lots of luck or illegal business defines a "better product"?

At least to the extent that 'better' means 'successful'. In the case of the Super 8mm audio tape, the sound quality of the medium was *much* better than the sound quality of cassette tape, even with DOlbyNR; the cost and size of the Super 8mm format made it unattractive to the average consumer. Look at the LaserDisk video market - clearly a superior product from a technology POV, but it's gone and DVD is still here. The reason - the public can't perceive the difference, and DVD was smaller (ergonomic advantage) and cheaper.

There've been tons of examples of advanced technology that didn't survive; go back and look at the tanks used in WWII - the German tanks were far more advanced than the Sherman...