Whether or not the metaverse will be realized as envisioned by Mark Zuckerberg or as desired so passionately by those in favor of radical decentralization, it provides us with a lens to look at what's happening in technology.
It makes us think about ways to store and verify data, about how to make data even 'fun' to own and to trade, about ways and challenges to overcome physical distances in order to collaborate and to feel one is really sharing a place with others.