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What you are suggesting is no different to new houses being built with half-timbered 'mock tudor' exteriors. They are built, or should I say procured, using current materials and technology but emulate an historical appearance, essentially because people take a certain comfort in the familiarity of understood superficial style. It holds a certain weight, but it is my opinion completely backward.

Sometimes it can be justified. If there's a new development in the middle of historic part of town you can go both ways - fit something ultra stylish and modern between tudor building or go for a style matching surrounding area. Definitely no-no is modern, but plain and "of council development-like" stricte functional appearance.

The same is with bikes. If you own the newest frame stick with the modern gear. If you have old frame, go for something more classic. If you can't find classics or can afford them, go for the substitute. I think about it as a temporary solution, though.