> I'm really curious to know (as an amateur non-expert fan of chip hardware history, and local history) -- when Intel or Fairchild, etc. developed a new chip with whatever capabilities, how did they explain or get people to quickly understand what it could do?
Apart from what other comments already correctly stated, the more straightforward answer to your questions is probably: They did and they do develop and build reference designs. Take any silicon you can buy today and very likely you will find a detailed reference design in the data sheet. These designs don't exist only on paper, they are built and used for demonstration purposes and sales. As a customer often you can buy what is basically the reference design in form of evaluation boards too.
Apart from what other comments already correctly stated, the more straightforward answer to your questions is probably: They did and they do develop and build reference designs. Take any silicon you can buy today and very likely you will find a detailed reference design in the data sheet. These designs don't exist only on paper, they are built and used for demonstration purposes and sales. As a customer often you can buy what is basically the reference design in form of evaluation boards too.