Neat article. I purchased new back when a Trek 8000 ally tubed bonded MTB but were yet to offer any suspended fork. Within 6 months that year, the selling dealer showed me a Trek information new product flier. There was this new fangled air / hyd fork. Rock Shox had already launched. Anyways, I ordered it and apparently was one of the first. Fuzzy memory but was around $250. That first suspended fork supplier to Trek was Showa.

Then I purchased a Kestrel CS-X carbon hardtail with Ritchey rigid fork. Specialized announced their 'Future Shock', so of course I jumped on the bandwagon.

Both had such little travel and stiction blah, blah but what a revolution in riding rugged single tracks!