Back then it was the Kodak cameras and point and shoots. And then one stepped up to a SLR. The difference is they were all film cameras and any mobile phone could not take a picture. The quality of the low end film cameras were no match for a SLR.

The reason there are very few point and shoot cameras to choose from these days is because they have been replaced by cellphones. And these cellphone have entry level cameras in them now. I know because I have a Galaxy S7 and it has quite a good camera in it. Do I use it often? No, I prefer to shoot with my Olympus and download my pictures to the cellphone. But that is because I have a preference for better photos than the cellphone is able to produce. The new generation doesn't really understand or necessarily want photographs that are better than a cellphone's pictures. And now with the likes of the S7, one can control aperture, shutter speed, ISO, white balance, modes, etc. plus it puts the shutter "button" on the edge buttons and has almost no shutter lag. Only recently have the cameras caught up to the cellphones in GPS, Bluetooth, and WiFi. The new generation is asking why do I need a DSLR and the answer for most of them is they don't need DSLR. The next generation is not buying into DSLRs and the older generations are both dying off (death is inevitable) and too weak and old to carry the heavy DSLRs (hence the relatively stable market for mirrorless). It will be only be a matter of time before DSLRs are very expensive and only owned by upper end and well heeled pros.