I think back to the early '90s and how much we got done with the Microsoft TechNet CDs. I feel that I was much sharper then, with a better handle on compiling, linking, debugging...

For me it was installing redhat and finding the linux hoiwtos. For example networking was awesome and detailed going deep into TCP/IP etc.

At those times to do shit you had to learn it properly. Not just copy and paste it from stackoverflow...