Early vs. Late dusters

I stated my opinion earlier, and it's based on real experience. In 1992 I bought my second 1970 Dart, a non running 318/904 car. The seller told me that the transmission was done, and he and his son had started to take it apart, but the son quickly lost interest and after it sitting in the front yard for a year or longer, his wife said it had to go.
I paid $70.00 for it, and had it towed home. I was working full-time and I had been pulling wrenches for more than 10 years by then, but it still took 3 weeks of working on it nights and weekends before I got to drive it, not to mention at least $1500.00 in parts costs.
I had a friend rebuild the transmission for me, I did the remove and reinstall on the driveway, and I installed new brakes, master cylinder, 2 wheel cylinders, complete exhaust, 2 front fenders (rusted), 4 used tires, pinion seal, u joints, tie rods, all new cooling system hoses and a radiator. When I wasn't working on it, I was tracking down parts, a much easier task 25 years ago than today.
That's the reality.