We’ve seen the same issues with hockey. The use of plastics in shoulder and elbow protections versus the older leathers and felt padding. When delivering a hit both players feel it, today not so much as a plastic shoulder goes into a face it’s more one way.
As much as they have been changing the rules, a crazy part of me wonders if less equipment might help more, like those old leather helmets. Would players not be hitting as hard?
He was a part of the story. The book The Founders goes into the beginnings of PayPal, Ebay, the other players, Elon being brought in, and Elon’s origins. A good read and it’s not all about Musk.