CRT displays are one of those analog technologies that are arguably much cooler than their digital successors. Think – a literan raygun, a particle accelerator, inside your monitor, creating the image you're looking at.
It’s certainly one the bits of tech that would be an insane pitch if invented today: “Yes, please stick your face in front of this particle accelerator. I assure you, it’s completely safe. You may experience some visual side effects but that’s completely intended.”