While your point is valid, if you had the facilities
to keep and run 'NASA's last mainframe' it'd be a pretty cool
collector's piece down the line, especially if you could get some kind of paperwork to
prove it's heritage. I am such a sentimental old romantic (at 31) sometimes ;)
I do not think this machine really is all that historic - if any.
NASA's computation is far better suited to run on other architectures,
and has been for a very long time. I think this z9 probably was
hanging on simply because someone could not let go.
Still, neat to have. Watch the surplus lists (and be prepared to be outbid!).
--
Will