I think you’re right that the tech doesn’t connect to anything else. You just have to believe that the Institute existed and developed in relative isolation underground, with a lot of great science minds inventing things. In that way, it actually makes sense that synth tech isn’t connected to anything else. But I still agree that thematically, it’s kinda off. Nuclear power in everything down to motorcycles… that’s on-theme. Artificial humans indistinguishable from the real thing? That’s different. Still, I’m okay with different.