There are also plenty of people out there that just want something new and like steel. On the C&V forum I would say a majority of people enjoy getting cheap old bikes and fixing them up but not everybody knows how or wants to. They just want a sweet vintage looking ride that is shiny and new, and are willing to pay for it.
+1 - I confess to owning a tig welded, sloped, briftered and fendered Raliegh. I bought it cuz it was shiney and new and I hadn't bought a new bike in 25+ years, kinda an impulse thing. Anyway, most people think its a restored bike, I even had some from the carbon fiber crowd look it over and ask if its restored or new. So the lesson is most people on two wheels really don't know too much about the evolution of the bicycle.