I think we are just showing our age my friend...It wouldn't surprise me that the pre-war generation who had used things like Galilean binoculars and Barr & Stroud CF41s also thought that Dialyts and Trinovids were modern and zany when they appeared.
Good point. What I mostly miss is the good old dogma "form follows function". If you look at how functional u-boot-binoculars from WW2 were designed or even the east german army EDF I miss the same form factor quality today. Modern is no problem by itself. There are many well made mobile phones and laptops that are designed pretty straightforward and nice to use.
Cars on the other hand have to show off: Status, prestige, power, higher rank, muscles - all those headlight vodoo faces. I'm more a function guy. Look at those maglite torches. Super straight, robust non slipping easy to hold and use. That's what I like. Make binoculars like them please.