Typing this on a 3rd generation iPad that seems as capable as the day I bought it. It’s forever topped-out at iOS 9, but it still runs just fine.
Appears you are correct.
My old iPad has been taken over by my 8-year old son who uses it to play games. I honestly never touch it except to plug it in to the charger. Curious, I tested it out and it does seem to be working much faster. I know for a while, it barely worked on the internet. Maybe Apple fixed something on it?
I 'm typing this reply on a 2009 MacBook Pro that was functioning perfectly until my kids dumped Gatorade in it. I wound up breaking off some keys trying to clean it and now it's been turned into a desktop hooked to an external monitor and wireless keyboard. Still works great though!