One of my complaints about so many SciFi stories is the use of seemingly conventional weapons. I always thought that with so much advanced technology that weapons would be much more sophisticated. However if the next "great war" is won not by the side with the most destructive weapons but by the side with the best kill switch, subsequent conflicts might be fought with weapons that did not rely on any kind of computer assistance.

This is eerily similar to Einstein's (purported) statement that if World War III was fought with nuclear weapons, World War IV would be fought with sticks and stones. Similar, but for entirely different reasons.

I'm trying to understand why the characters in Dune fought with swords, pikes and knives.