Great insights @buggedout. So true, that there is a direct relationship between the opportunity for financial and the development of disruptive technology to take advantage. Basically, for all the mining POW schemes, if it can be done on a bunch of separate systems it can be consolidated into one. It just takes the desire, talent, and resources to make it happen.
I think many in the crypto mining sphere don't get this and believe the marketing "ASIC resistant" claims. When in fact it really is an economic incentive equation.
You summarise it beautifully. "It is an economic incentive equation" hits the nail on the head.