I'm not suggesting that current data modelling is no better than it was 60 years ago (it surely is), what I'm saying is that we have 60+ years of predictive record for the latter and 6 for the former, so let's not get ahead of ourselves.
To use your analogy: let's rather not get too complacent about figuring out the world isn't flat and risk placing all future bets on it being round.
To use your analogy: let's rather not get too complacent about figuring out the world isn't flat and risk placing all future bets on it being round.