In 2016, Apple's exploration of ZFS as a potential filesystem was overshadowed by the subsequent announcement of APFS. The discussion highlights the implications of ZFS not being adopted, reflecting on its complexities and the broader impact on desktop innovation when platforms like Microsoft also abandoned ambitious filesystem projects. Comments from users suggest that the failure of ZFS may have stemmed from its technical demands, such as high RAM usage and latency issues that would have posed challenges on mobile devices like the iPhone. Concerns over memory management and data integrity also came into play, indicating that ZFS might not have been a suitable fit for Apple's evolving hardware ecosystem, especially with devices that require low power and memory efficiency.