Originally Posted by AlgarveCycling

We each make our choices. No marketing. No copying. Just what works best for us individually. You think people are being duped by companies selling expensive stuff but the vast majority really, really aren't. They have tried different things and bought what they prefer. Simple as that.
If some folks want to ride old bikes, that's up to them and great that they enjoy doing so.
Not all of us do though and you seem to not want to accept this fact. This isn't about someone buying a new bike, then riding an old one from the 70's/80's/90's and going "Dangnabbit! I can't tell the difference! Why'd I spend all that $$$ in a new bike?" No, that 'revelation' doesn't happen in the real World, only in the minds of some who want it to be true. What really happens is they realise how much nicer to ride their new bike is compared to what we had back in the old days.