> Is there any other area where you would tolerate 35 year-old performance as "good enough"?

Yeah. Speakers, printers, lightbulbs, garage doors, etc., etc.

I can tell the difference between 60 Hz and higher rates, but I think that most people could not care less. You don't buy a Thinkpad to game on, the most intense workout the display is liable to get is scrolling down a page.