I'm an old car purist, too.
My question is, why do you place so much importance on what others think? Did you really work that hard and spend that much money to receive accolades? None of those idiots on the street have 1/10th the knowledge you have acquired while working on your car(s). Would you see a doctor who knows less about medicine than you do? Would you heed the advice of an attorney who never read a law book? An accountant who cannot count? Then, why on Earth do you get so animated over casual comments made by idiots who probaby aren't even active in the hobby?