Ha, that's a good one... also somewhat true! By extension, ASICs really are just about cleaner PCB layout.

(Yes, yes, there are non-aesthetic physical, electrical, designed, and parasitic effects of cables vs PCBs and vice-versa. Spoil-sport.)

> ASICs really are just about cleaner PCB layout

ASIC's are just very small PCB's with all discrete components etched on the same material ;-)

Yes, exactly, thus tidying ('mother') PCB layout in the same way that a PCB tidies all the cables into a small arrangement with all discrete components fixed in the same plane.