Hall effect is ancient tech.
Hall effect switches, which use the Hall effect to detect magnetic fields and switch states, became more common in the late 20th century. Their use increased in the 1980s and 1990s and their reliability and performance improved.
The Hall effect was discovered in 1879 by Edwin Hall, but the practical application of Hall effect switches in consumer electronics and industrial applications took several decades to develop. By the 1980s, Hall effect sensors were increasingly used in automotive systems, industrial automation, and consumer electronics for reliability, durability, and lack of physical contact in the switching mechanism.
Edit: reminds me of paying a premium for 'clicky' key switches which were super common and dirt cheap in the 1980s.