It's also true about cars, homes, power tools, computers, and etc. Newer variants of these items are more efficient and it's just dumb to try to use things forever without updating them.
While I agree with your other examples, I think power tools are a bad example. I'm using a wired drill and circular saw from 20 years ago, which both still work perfectly. How is buying a modern power tool which requires disposable batteries that 99% of people will dispose of improperly a better choice for the environment? My guess is that the industry shifted toward batteries because of convenience, not efficiency, but I could be wrong.
