I don't agree - and here's why:

There have been hundreds of "solutions to non-existent problems" over the past decades. Collectively, they amount to far better bike technology.

Ride a 1950s bike, then a 1970s bike to see what I mean. Then ride a 1990s bike (remember the days before carbon?) bd then a modern bike. All of those small 'unnecessary' changed have a cumulative effect.