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What if: Romans see potential of Steam Power?

It is well known and accepted that simple steam engines -- mostly used
for toys to amuse the wealthy -- existed under the Roman Empire from
the early centuries of the Christian era.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_of_Alexandria

Nevertheless, fifteen hundred years were to pass before the steam
engine became the force that propelled England and the rest of Europe
into the Industrial Revolution.  Why the enormous lapse of time before
the full potential of steam power was exploited?  While a number of
critical inventions were made that proved useful in the development of
steam power -- in particular, cast iron, itself derived from the coke
produced in blast furnaces -- in the intervening millenium and a half,
were these really beyond the power and conception of the Roman mind?

What if the Romans had seen the full potential of steam power?  Would
their empire still have fallen?  What affects would such technological
developments have had on the form and extent of the empire?  On
government.   On the economy.  On the military.  On religion.  On
Christianity.

In particular, why didn't the Romans develop steam power?  What,
exactly was the obstacle, or obstacles?  Were they technological,
social, economic, religious?

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