Yes, of course.

All we had were rims brakes for the longest time. Now some claim that they absolutely need disc (or drum) brakes. (OK, drum brakes existed for a while but were not widely used.) I do accept that the presence of something sometimes creates its own need, but the differences between rim brakes and hub brakes isn't as dramatic as some seem to think. I don't ride any hub brakes, and I do just fine. When it's wet out, I allow greater stopping distances. If I believed my brakes were so fantastic that I didn't need to change anything, I'd be delusional, because while the brake might slow my wheel as well when wet as when dry, my tires don't.

I don't have anything against anyone using hub brakes. Really. But if someone were to imply that rim brakes are entirely unsuitable for his purpose, I'd need to see a very special purpose for me to believe him. There are a few, but most of us do just fine with rim brakes. And rims brakes are practically free. I have a bin of them in my barn, too many for me ever to need.