Steve, I tend to agree except.... I just turned 52 and the plumbing is starting to not cooperate!...fortunately only in "elimination mode". Plumbing still has a heightned sense of um...er..."patriotism" and can "fly the flag" without a problem!
Ordinarily, I'd rip out balky plumbing with a Sawzall and throw in some new copper.....but I'm not THAT much a man!