Actually, probably, yeah. Say you want a database application for 20 concurrent users. In the early 90s that was client-server, thick client on the desktop (installed how? even the tools for remote deployment sucked back then), a "big iron" database server, proprietary languages on both ends, networking with IPX or Token Ring or something, etc etc.

Nowadays you can take for granted everyone has TCP/IP and a web browser and you can knock up a RoR app in a day...