Well ... FTP was very early, RFC 114 in 1971 going by the titles (http://tools.ietf.org/rfc/) and only coming after (at that level) a logger protocol (had to do with setting up terminal service), terminal services and RJE.

But, yes, anyone who complains about a new boziod protocol should be forced to look at the wonders and horrors of FTP, especially in the context of NATs.