Comment by edwcross

TVs back then supported a given standard (NTSC, PAL) and a lower resolution. CRTs couldn't "buffer" the image. Several aspects made it so that "cheating" was not possible.

It was either fast, or nothing. Image quality suffered, but speed was not a parameter.

With LCDs, lag became a trade-off parameter. Technology enabled something to become worse, so economically it was bound to happen.