They may have been right, that someone would remember the Exchange easier than a string of just numbers, but Exchanges really were that, buildings with operators and exchanges. Later central offices for the relays and later the computers.

We all accept area codes as a necessity, used to drive my Dad to complaining. "What, now we need to dial an area code and exchange and a number!" He was born in 1911. Mom worked for AT&T in Chicago when they had operators. Yeah, before direct dial.

So an area code, then and exchange and then more numbers, becomes more confusing than all numbers.

Hey how would you like finding websites without the translation tables to what we use? Lets see, I'll look for Pete, he's pporro@50.50.152.45 (or peteklinger@ someplace else)