Actually I dont feel disadvantaged at all riding my own classic bike. I vastly appreciate it for what it is, downtube shifters, lugged steel frame, and single pivot brakes and all. In a way I even feel superior to the so called modern bikes I see on the road. The introduction of 10-speed cassettes is a good inovation, as well as integrated shifting, clipless pedals, and dual pivot brakes, but thats where it ends IMO. As far as steel goes, the pinacle was reached more than a decade ago and I'm happier than a pig in slop just to be able to own and ride something like that.

Of course all of this is perspective.