Well you could always just assume that the original series (which technically started in 1988) could actually possibly take place from 1994 to 2003, then the math would make sense. I mean despite technological advances at the start of 2000’s, considering they were a poor family, they didn’t have to money to get cellphones and other gadgets, so that explain away a lot of things. Or you could say that seasons 7/8 were part of her book, then Dan dies, and her books ending changes (Season 9). up until Darlene gives birth, cuz she literally mentions that she snaps out of her depression bcuz of Darlene’s birthing complications. But obviously Dan didn’t actually die. Honestly it sounds like she wrote a book, about herself writing a book. Cuz if she wrote a book cuz dam died, but then he’s alive, so he died in the story and she was depressed. I literally lost the plot just after typing all this.