But early wheeled luggage didn't have casters, just straight wheels. And those wheeled carts that you see old people dragging home from the supermarket (in some cities) existed long before -- metal frame, sagging canvas bag, works great.
There are lots of other factors though. One was buildings with lots of smooth floors & no stairs, which IIRC was partly about designing to be wheelchair-friendly, and partly about luggage carts.
Another as you say was flying becoming less of an elite thing -- the private jet people today sure as hell don't muscle their own luggage anywhere, so theirs just has to look good in the hotel room.
Another was just savvy marketing: again IIRC, the breakthrough came from marketing them heavily to pilots first, cool people in smart uniforms (who did not have porters) breezing along with smart leather bags. Precisely to break the image of old people dragging their potatoes home.
Other thing I'd meant to mention, was that the territory of "wheeled luggage" has expanded. Previously maybe at an airport you'd haul your luggage to a car at the kerb that will take you to your destination.
Modern airport usually has some public transport that takes you into town, and from there you get further transport to where you wish to go.
i.e. Having your luggage be less of a burden opens up your choices.
I live in a university town with a lot of foreign students. It's now entirely normal for me to see one 'herding' (for want of a better word) a flock of cases quite successfully down the pavement infront of me.
There are lots of other factors though. One was buildings with lots of smooth floors & no stairs, which IIRC was partly about designing to be wheelchair-friendly, and partly about luggage carts.
Another as you say was flying becoming less of an elite thing -- the private jet people today sure as hell don't muscle their own luggage anywhere, so theirs just has to look good in the hotel room.
Another was just savvy marketing: again IIRC, the breakthrough came from marketing them heavily to pilots first, cool people in smart uniforms (who did not have porters) breezing along with smart leather bags. Precisely to break the image of old people dragging their potatoes home.