Well, I kind of understand where he's comin' from, and that's why I always go along with his joke, but you're right of course, John. And Kurt (the older gent in question here) always asks that question with just the right amount of lilt in his voice that I can't help but always laugh at it.
And I've always gotten the impression that he understands that progress isn't necessarilly "a bad thing".
(and of course he REALLY likes my old 1970 Streettracker)