Or tight geometry, double butted tubing, threading for a modern bottom bracket / headset, and a frame and fork that weighs less than 8 lbs. There's really nothing ****ty or heavy about the kilo (and probably the others, although I don't have any experience with them). Not knowing what quality the Motobecane is, it could make a big difference or a minor one.
All of those brands, Mercier, Motobecane, Dawes, etc... are not related to the 70s/80s brands. Yes, they are junk bikes. No, they do not have tight track geometry. It's a road frame with horizontal dropouts.