“..digital cameras, credit cards, voicemail, cellphones, email, and a myriad of new tech.” did not require substantial government subsidies and mandates to keep them afloat.”
Every technological advance we have was subsidized by the US gov’t at one point or another.
Read Steve Jobs book. Most of the cell phone technology was subsidized or even invented by the US gov’t. Steve was smart enough to put it all together in one package.
The US gov’t is spending 52 billion dollars for subsidizing chip manufacturing.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/06/14/global-subsidies-semiconductors-shortage/
Of course the government is financially involved in new technology, it is important they stay at the forefront of technology for national safety reasons if nothing else. But I don’t recall the government paying me, or shaming me with fantastical stories of the world ending if I didn’t get rid of my landline and buy a cellphone, which at that time could be used in a few areas of major cities.
The Federal government litigated against consumer choice for long-distance phone service, and cellular phones. It’s alway prudent to consider that you don’t know what you don’t know. Others might give your opinions more value.