I've long been of the opinion that we get "imprinted" during adolescence with our preferences in cars, music, and women, and I guess for many of us, guns should be on that list. The vast majority of my guns are based on designs from the beginning of WWII to the end of the Vietnam War, and most of those were actually built during those years. I have two pre-WWII handguns (a Colt 1903 .32 and a S&W I-frame .32) and possibly two .22 rifles (depending on when the Winchester 69A was built). My "newest" handgun is a Smith 5906, which is based on the M59 of the mid-1970s, which was in turn based on the post-WWII Smith 39. My newest rifle is a Rhineland Arms R22 which is almost 20 years old now. Its styling is based on the HK 93, more or less, but it's actually built around a 10/22 bolt and magazine system and AR-15 FCG guts. I wouldn't trade any of my S&W revolvers for THREE of ANYTHING in their current catalog.
But that's just me, and I admit to being an Auld Phart.
Now, get off my lawn!