"They simply don't make them like this anymore"

Weeeell maybe audio marches on -- the question is in what direction?
Mind you labour intensive applicatons have become much more expensive -- even though digital (s/w, etc) has helped lower the prices in certain domains... Also certain materials cost has skyrocketed (remember "Alnico"?).
BTW some older DESIGNS are quite good but hardly cost effective; newer designs take into account the better components that are now available and contemporary tastes and price sensitivity and, of course, use modelling to reduce (r&)d costs.

Coming to think of it there is precious little "r" in the audio frequencies reproduction after all... it's mostly "d", isn't it? Cheers

That sounds like the lingo someone uses to describe an older piece / long past its prime--that they are trying to unload.---(For way to much,I might add.)

I am confused. Do you mean to say that these vintage pieces are left behind, or that they can compete with modern designs?

"Back in the day" we referred to Phase linear as "Flame Linear." Not only did it sound like crap but it it went up in smoke on a regular basis. Lots of power for low $$ when it worked, unfortunately it didn't work all that often. At that time, Carver was "brilliant" in marketing unconventional designs that turned out to be either unreliable or sounding like crap or both. Maybe he's gotten better since then.