Is there anything at all that the old radios do better than the new ones?
Evoke nostalgia. Some of us were teenagers or college students when this or that rig came out, so we couldn't afford it. Later in life, we can. For me, it was the Icom R-70, which I finally bought almost 30 years after it came it out. It's everything everyone said back in the day – so much so that it influenced my decision to get a 7700.
The older radios are built alot better, all metal, not plastic and made in china. The tube radio sound IMO is far better as well, plus the tube radios can run at 3-1 swr where a new rig shuts down at 2-1. They are easier to repair and alot more fun to tune up and work dx. I have both new and old, like them both but prefer tube gear 99% of the time.
