My first year of college was in 1973 — the year they eliminated slide rules in Chemistry. By then a four function TI calculator cost 80 bucks, but I found a used one for half that. The next year four function digital watches were available for five bucks.
My memory is getting foggy, but was it Pickett that built the yellow aluminum slides. I had two, one about 9” (pocket) and another about 14”x2.5” which I used until I went back to college in 78 to study chem-e. Bought a HP41c and never looked back. Seems I was always internally wired in reverse Polish. Dean’s list in math too. LOL.