The debate about old and new cars is really beside the point.  The fact is
the HP3000s sold today have very little resemblance to the ones sold
twenty-five years ago - new architecture, rewritten and greatly
enhanced operating system, etc.

If we are to assume that the value of an OS or its applicability to a
purpose can be measured simply by the release date of its original
version, then MPE (1972) beats Unix (1969).  Of course the premise is
ridiculous.  I think other criteria, such as functionality, reliability, ease of
use, interoperability, quality of vendor support, efficiency (shall I go on?)
are far more important and meaningful.  It is just plain idiotic to abandon a
good solution for a less desirable one simply because it is assumed to be
newer or because the trade press tries to say you must.

The fact is that MPE is the best solution for some requirements, just as
Unix, NT or even (gulp) MVS is the best solution for others.  The choice
has nothing to do with dates.