If you go back and look at the subject of the article, it is about beauty, not utility, though admittedly the two are sometimes intertwined. However, the old dictum that “form follows function” is often just a canard today. One look at plastic plantation shutters, which even if they actually were hinged, could not cover the windows they are designed to accent, shows that such matters of utility have long since been abandoned. I thought the purpose of this website was to discuss the subject at hand? Have I erred by sticking to the subject?
Now, no one, least of all me, is surprised that fads are not universally adopted. But trends are. When I was a young child, hats for men were almost universally worn by American men. Today, the only type of male hats still worn are baseball caps. When was the last time you wore a fedora? Again, it can clearly be demonstrated by even a cursory look at modern society that most people DO adopt new trends and fashions, a few old curmudgeons not withstanding.
Again, in your comments about music, you misunderstand me. I am NOT surprised that some folks like classical music. My oldest bother prefers the big band sound. Nothing wrong with that. The fact remains that some people like both more traditional styles as well as modern music. Even more like current musical artists best, as shown by music sales, concert attendance, and popular culture generally.
As for how you or anyone else wants to spend their money, that’s up to the individual. I support their right to do so. My only remarks, to which you have not added anything of substance to the question, is why buildings, particularly domiciles, are so out of sync with the rest of their buying habits.
It is a good question. Why do you think it is? It is quite common to see an over-the-top modern design of a car parked in front of a colonial (or pseudo Spanish in the West) house.
Of course, people also buy those retro-looking PT Cruisers, and restore Bel Airs. Nor do only houses try to look vintage -- taste in art is also often traditionalist, and even more so in furniture.
My guess is that no one is foregoing electricity or modern pluming in order to live in a colonial. In houses, you CAN get a traditional look with modern amenities. In cars, you cannot. Imagine that Toyota built one of those royal carriage-looking limousines from the 40's, yet made them as reliable and fuel efficient as the Prius. We might yet see that; we are simply not used to the idea that cars that are not a constant source of frustration are now commonplace. Once we begin to trust the mechanics, we may turn to tradition in looks. In short, people like modern design in areas where there is a rapid engineering progress being made: they associate last year's design with poor quality, and modern looks reassure that the engineering is better. Once the technology is mature, they turn to esthetics for beauty's sake, and become traditionalists.