The reason why video hosting is so difficult back then is because the available network bandwidth back then can’t cope with the huge bitrate that the codecs of the time requires. (this is before CDNs are a thing)

And here we are with YouTube selling users with “better” bitrate from the already acceptable video quality they’re currently using ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯