Software randomness and complexity made OS 'bloated', tapping into the immense resources. Up until linux 2.4 computer still had a smallness feel, there was not many abstraction layers to cross, short response time[1]. Now even with systemd fast boot, v8 jitted javascript and performant machines you notice a slight delay.

[1] of course pushing compositeless full screen cga or even vga doesn't require the same architecture complexity