Why obsolete-looking naval aircraft once made sense

Why did anyone think the Brewster Buccaneer and Vought Vindicator were good ideas?

They were reasonable when specified, but long development cycles and rapid technological change made them obsolete quickly.

Aircraft should be judged against the requirement and technology available when their specifications were written, not only against later opponents. The Swordfish example shows how a 1933 requirement could yield a 1936 service aircraft, making the specification date essential context. A three-to-four-year development cycle meant a rational early-1930s design could appear badly dated by service entry. The RAF's late fighter-production surge then competed with naval requirements, further distorting what reached Fleet Air Arm units when war began.