Was it really only 25 years ago.

will say this

protocols are established, before something goes into operation
often in the very early design stages
it is one of the first things done
it has too be done before 'the thing' DVD or internet, is created ,functioning, and public

I can not see, the date of the protocols, as Establishment of anything, except the concept, certainly NOT the implementation of public access internet

one side is arguing, about the tangible aspects of the implementation and use, the who and what

the other side is arguing about concepts protocols and when the ideas for it were first talked about

and there were different players on each side, which aided in this becoming real

and IMO 'real' is when it exists and is usable, not the 20yrs ?, that led up to it happening
yes with out those previous years it would not have happen
but those previous years are not the internet
arpanet was not the internet
it was the precursor in the USA, just as were dialup BBS,
it was putting everything on ONE electronic backbone, that made it the internet