Sonny, you gotta go further back than that. My first TV remote control was the size of a Kleenex box with a separate button for each channel and a 20' cord to reach the couch; we didn't get that until someone invented
cable.
I do a lot of tinkering out in the shop. With both hands. I'm used to holding the cigarette in the corner of my mouth while my hands are busy. Can't do that with a big box, which is why I favour the smaller form factor.
I am starting to think I should have gone with the 501 threading though. All the reports I read suggested the 808D was a better battery, so I guess it really is kind of like Betamax...