Are lawnmowers built worse than 20 years ago?

I bought a rotary Honda powered mower about 3 or so years ago (it's Honda powered, but the mower isn't high dollar....think I paid about $240 for it) Anyway, that thing.....starts.....on the very first pull, every single time! The first PULL! And that's even after sitting all winter in a shed (don't really cut my grass over winter; it's dormant). I was never super impressed with the old Briggs & Stratton engines from "back in the day". I know the cylinder was aluminum with no sleeve, and the compression would drop like a rock over 2 or 3 years, IIRC....