So my basic question is do modern bikes last like their predecessors? I've been debating hard on which wabi cycle to get: Classic or special. They both use Reynolds 725, the difference of course being TIG welded or lugged frame. I've read pages and pages of arguments that really just leads to a stalemate in whether or not it matters if the joining method is welding or using lugs. I want to get a lugged frame but I'm thinking to myself, if most mountain bikes which are meant to take abuse are TIG welded then why wouldn't TIG welds hold up on a road bike? I really can't justify paying 200+ dollars for barely noticeable lugs (at least on the wabi) unless they serve some sort of additional purpose. Then I pondered the issue of having my bike for the long run when I started leaning towards lugs again and I thought to myself if I'm on the east coast and have to deal with all four seasons to include lots of snow and salted roads; how much longevity can I really expect from my frame even with proper care? I know there are bikes around from the 70s and 80s but from what I read that type of steel (reynolds 531 I believe) is no longer being used. How realistic is it to expect a modern bike to last a theoretical 'lifetime'? Thanks for your time in advanced.
http://www.wabicycles.com/bike_main_pg2011.html