Everybody always complains about the weather but nobody ever does anything about it.

In other words, even though everybody complains about something, and even though it's theoretically fixable, the cost+benefit isn't always there. That doesn't stop people from complaining or offering conceptual solutions.

If nobody pursues a particular solution, that's strong evidence about the real implementation and problem costs. Not conclusively, of course. But as a passive observer it's usually the best evidence available.

Really, the answer to the COBOL "problem" is obvious and it's what basically anybody familiar with it suggests: a piecemeal and gradual shift according to cost, benefit, and opportunity.