I've always been fascinated with the old steam powered and half step motors that revolutionized the American industrial period. Technology and metallurgy have advanced to a point that there really is no reason for us to not bring back some of the older more efficient and long lasting designs of the past. The only thing really stopping us is the, "if it breaks, buy a new one" mindset most of western society is stuck in. Almost everything is designed to fail on purpose now days, with parts purposefully designed so they cannot be rebuilt. I'm not exactly certain how to get all of society away from that mentality, but it warrants some thought.