Are lawnmowers built worse than 20 years ago?

I picked up an old MTD (late 80's) riding mower from Craigslist for 400 bucks. It has a 12.5 horse Briggs industrial engine with the cast iron liner and has been absolutely awesome for everything including plowing snow.

In regards to the aluminum cylinder, they use a plating called "nikasil" that's very hard, but the slightest amount of dirt or dust will trash the plating and rings.