Consider this: Word Processing, and Word Processor UX was a solved problem from his perspective 20 years ago (he is far from alone in this opinion). Quite honestly, I have no idea what Word today is doing for me that the Word I was using 2 decades ago wasn't already doing.
It isn't curmudgeonly to say that a product has reached maturity, and does not need changes. This happens a lot outside of the computing realm; a screwdriver from 50 years ago is basically the same as a modern one. A mechanic using his grandfather's screwdriver isn't "proud of being a curmudgeon" they are just using a perfectly good tool that doesn't need updates.
So perhaps they are not wrong and newer doesn't always mean better.
I understand millions of people are able to use ms word. I just can't work with the UI. It even makes me angry and aggressive. And that's not an easy thing to achieve.
Would you agree that a "new" TV that requires an internet connection is worse than a ten year old TV that just works?
Would you agree that decades of UI research are discarded by supposedly "new" and "modern" computer interfaces?
And the whole "I'm proud of being a curmudgeon " is exactly the problem being identified by others in this thread. It's like you weren't even reading it.