Some people like antiques for their beauty alone. We admire the workmanship and history of a gorgeous old sideboard or vase, or whatever. The phrase "they just don't make it like that anymore" comes to mind. With sewing machines you get the best of both worlds. Beauty and function. I collect antique and vintage sewing machines and I love them all. I like that I can have something in my sewing room that looks decorative, but I can take it down or sit at it and sew something beautiful.
I do have some newer machines and I use those too. I have back ups for my backups.