I can't wait for 12 speed to trickle down, nay in fact I think 14 speed with a double or triple chainring and electronic/wireless shifting, it has to be the way to go, so much better than having only 7 different options, better for touring, commuting or utility when loaded most definitely, especially the electronic gear shifting.
Having a gear for any situation you will ever come across on any terrain and whatever cadence you happen to like pedalling at you can command with very little effort to go to the next gear along at just the push of a button without having any big jumps.
It certainly makes it more appealing to newcomers to have gearing made so easy and never have to adjust how fast you pedal significantly to maintain the same speed up or downhill.
There is no timeless appeal for a particular set up, some are more physically attractive to a given person, some prefer simple but more hard work/endeavour, some prefer more modern offerings and all the advantages it gives even if it costs more. Not a single person here doesn't have modern tech and I bet they wouldn't go back to the previous step otherwise they would still be there. Going by the rationale we might as well just go back to living in the trees, knock yourself out, I'm not bothered enough to start a thread purporting it to be the good ol days/best of times though it's interesting to consider the up/down sides of such.