Tektronix even used Smalltalk - what a bad idea.
That was a prime example of tail-wagging-the-dog development if ever I saw it.
I can't comment on the Tek example, but that certainly wasn't true with the HP examples I saw. They worked well, partly due to a careful partitioning between hardware and software, and partly due to an understanding of what the software could and couldn't achieve.
It’s a trend that continues to this day, trendy developers with something to prove, ignoring all the risks in favour of getting a new line on their resume.
The trick is to be able to work out which new technology offer something new and
beneficial, as opposed to mere trends offering something new and
different.
It takes experience and wisdom to be able to do that, which conflicts with many HR-droids views of what makes a good developer.