So many things in the older games are so much cooler. The bronze parts that shine up and look absolutely spectacular, even though nobody but you generally sees them. The metal jeweled playfield posts. The marbled colored posts. The big playfield lockdown mechanism. Going all the way back even the wood rails are just so much more visually appealing.
I know my Royal Guard which is 1968 still has them. I've restored Drop A Card which still has them. After that I think they made the transition.
I still love the old manual lift ball games too. I'm turning into a Luddite I guess.