I was in telecommunications for 27 years and I saw this trend start in about 1989, as I was working for an American merchant bank. Following the recession of 90/91, then throughout the 90s, there was a steady cut back of investment, with an increase in outsourcing. Equipment had become so reliable and easier to use that it was taken for granted.
You still get folks saying, "My laptop/mobile died/was stolen and I've lost all my work"