Inexplicably missing technologies in SF

Both Stirling and Weber have had an op****tunity to replay the
technology tree by making sophisticated water power, starting with
hydraulic rams, stand in for electricity.  The former because
hydraulics are completely unaffected by the Change(*), the latter
because water power is a completely approved technology on the planet
Safehold.

Yet such use of water power hasn't made it into the books, unless you
count a military application in The Sunrise Lands.  Granted that it is
early in the Safehold books, but I don't have great confidence in
Weber since he seems to be relegating the details of his industrial
revolution off stage.  Strange in a series about the reconquering of
space.

Are there any series that have given you a "hey, wait a minute,
shouldn't we be seeing <technology>" moment?


* If water physics was changed the way he changed the Ideal Gas law,
water might all drain into the ocean and deep lake abysses.  Mind you
that's just my impression.