Why the 74-gun ship became attractive

Did a technological development cause the shift from 64- to 74-gun ships?

It reflected cheaper guns and larger ships designed for global operations, not one isolated technological leap.

Cheaper guns and the design of larger ships intended for global service mattered more than one single breakthrough. Greater hull size supported endurance and stores for distant operations as well as a heavier battery. Once designers were building that larger ship, carrying 74 guns became a practical use of its capacity. The rating therefore emerged from linked economic, operational, and design choices rather than a sudden technological invention.