The gedolim analogized the internet to the television, and riding on the success of past gedolim who banned tv, they decided to ban internet. Anyone who missed the folly in that 15 years ago surely sees it now. The biggest problem now is that people have too much pent up guilt after all these years of “going behind the rabbi’s back”, which has greatly diminished their respect for their leaders. After years of rationalizing that the rabbis are out of touch, it is hard to suddenly do an about face and change their lives drastically at the same time.
I hate to say this, but I will. It also doesn’t help that no one has come out and said, “We were wrong before.” Sometumes an apology goes a long way to restoring respect.