I'm not sure they were as widespread as you think. I was born in the late 70s, and while we did get a ti-99/4a when they hit the bargain bin, I didn't have another computer at home until I started college in the 90s. Until then I had to use the computer lab at school because they were simply too expensive for us to own one at home.
And the TI I had was of limited use when I had to use it on the family TV and any basic I typed couldn't be saved because we didn't have the floppy drive.
And the TI I had was of limited use when I had to use it on the family TV and any basic I typed couldn't be saved because we didn't have the floppy drive.