Sort of. When I entered the trade in the 80's, we were starting to build tinker toys, which were distinctly different than those robust elevators of only twenty years earlier. I think the driving force was not us, but the real estate industry. Investors were stacking up buildings, flipping them, and laughing all the way to the bank. The initial buy-in was the only consideration, not longevity or long-term costs.

P.S.
I REALLY like working with today's whiz-bang microprocessors in climate controlled machine rooms, rather than troubleshooting a wall full of relays going clackety-clackety-clack in a sweltering room with screaming generators billowing carbon dust.