There was something I heard about why talking on the phone is more dangerous than talking with someone in the car. One of the reasons was that while someone is talking to you in the car they know when to stop talking when the situation causes for the drivers attention. While a phone conversation the person on the other end has no clue clue of the situation in the car.
While vacuum cleaners might feel like a modern invention, their roots can actually be traced back to the 1800s. Specifically, in 1860, Daniel Hess of West Union, Iowa, invented a device he called a “carpet sweeper.” The apparatus used a combination of bellows for suction and a rotating brush for gathering dust. And while yes if all you have is a hard wood floors the need for a vacuum is diminished but is still helpful. And what is useless for one person is helpful to another. Now there is interesting stories on how the Dyson came around to sell such an expensive vacuum.