You’re right, although if you ever get the chance to browse a real physical encyclopedia, it’s a unique experience.
Not practical, but it’s a bit like playing a record or playing a game on a real NES. It’s a unique experience.
I have a full 2007 set of Encyclopedia Brittanica in the same room as my vintage computer collection. I browse it occasionally.
I did a bit of searching and the initial size you mention seems to be the initial size to which extrapolation is possible given information we have and that past that point it’s unknowable?