Wasn't Schwinn's problem in the 70's that it wasn't able to produce a mass market lug framed bike in the Chicago factory? A step up from the Varsity? They went to Bridgestone and Panasonic in Japan (and later to Giant in Taiwan) to make these to Schwinn's standards (Schwinn Approved). They replaced the Super Sport, Sport Tourer and Superior with the Le Tour, Super Le Tour etc. The World Sport-Tour-Traveler seemed to be a lugged alternative to the Varsity.
So what is more desirable through the lens of history? The under appreciated (and rarer) original or the Improved offering to the fickle mass market? (OK, the Varsity is not rare, after the apocalypse there will be giant cockroaches riding EF Schwinns)