This topic is academic.;) I do agree with you, prob more than I should do old man! (referring to you dave!) ~ but you may also be overlooking a couple vital components that fit into the topic as well.
Cars aren't meant to last forever, so enjoy them people. If you want it to last forever, then put in extra of your own money. Of course the car has been thrashed, unless grandma has had it since new, the chances of any car being a virgin above 5thousand RPM is unlikely.
Any male between the age of 18 - 35 will have given it a hiding by default. (some chica's too mind you). But its not to say you wont find some great examples, that have had dollars thrown at them, and are of decent strength. Granted, maybe not your run of the mill commodore that was shit from the factory to begin with, but more specificly as examples, some of the jap spec, that have been engineered to take a decent amount of abuse oem, let alone upgraded.
Your also prob waving off the biggest issue with people today, let alone people that have a thirst for doing up cars. Its the hair trigger chase 8/10, its the journey and the impulse, then its on to the next money pit. Unless there is sentimental value, or a financial benefit (which is left stock anyways) you will find "parting ways" is not really the issue.
Yes, I agree with the unwanted attention factor, but who can honestly say what pulls the heat and what doesn't.
Go fast goodies doesn't exactly make it so, I personally believe you can see the persona of the traffic and more importantly the mindset of the driver, so of course cops would see it. My car is a heap now, but back in the day it had presence, and I can count on one hand how many times i've had the fuzz look my way. If you display wank factor and your playing the numbers game within the cops vision, your going to get flashed.
Thats my thoughts on the subject anyways
D, your going to have to crack that manual nut, she's got to learn dude. All women need to know how to drive stick..lol