The usual error in scientific community regarding technology and science is that such "advancements" are benefit in and of themselves without any consideration to the context of the complex sociopolitical matrix, in which they exist. Novel technology carries within itself disruption of social stability; the only question is the extent and duration of such social disruption. Without careful forethought, the technical wizardry has the potential to result in massive social chaos and political dissolution. While wise sovereigns and meticulous policies may diminish social disruption and chaos, man must recognize the cost of technological prowess is not measured in gold but in blood.

Plexiglass (or aluminum alloy) may be a curiosity, but would disruption of the barely stable Roman polity be worth releasing such bauble into the unsuspecting public? Tesla cheated Morgan of the promised working radio, the purpose of Morgan's forwarding vast sums of money to the eccentric genius, with his unilaterally changing the project to prototyping Tesla coils. The discontinuation of Morgan funding likely had as much to do with Morgan perceiving that Tesla was wasting his time than any fear of losing electricity monopoly.

Then, of course, one of the greatest weapons of mass murder, the printing press, that effectively caused more human misery than any nefarious tool invented. The new invention effectively made the vast workforce of the monks useless, as their services were no longer as necessary; and out of this boredom, we have the Reformation that killed-off much of Christendom and resulted in the death of the Western Church. Some ideas are not worth the blood with which they are purchased.