It seems like it started off very techno optimistic with flying cars and jolly citizens living in luxury. This didn't happen. Then writers became a lot more dystopian. This is greatly exaggerated though much closer to our present reality. I suppose it's always like that with reality vs fiction. Both heroes and villains are lazier, dumber, weaker, lamer. And the tech for totalitarian control has numerous flaws.

That's just my opinion. It's dangerous to fear nonexistent capabilities of totalitarianism.