One reason why The Diamond Age’s Primer seems exciting is that it’s a mostly-software solution to communicating values, conveying knowledge, providing mentorship. Other solutions are either very expensive (personal relationships, tutors, etc) or much less compelling (textbooks, lectures, etc). Even insofar as “ractors” are a necessary component, the Primer’s still a much cheaper way to distribute this type of material.
Because The Primer is an enormous enacted experience, one useful way to think about the Primer’s ideas is as a solution to Enacted experiences are hard to distribute, a manifestation of Enacted experiences have incredible potential as a mass medium.
Stephenson, N. (2003). The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer (Reprint edition). Spectra.