What you're experiencing is just a function of money, suspension and modern technology diluting the riding experience. Before I got back into riding I did the whole single speed rigid jones spaceframe h-bar thing. Natural long lasting metal. I only wore natural fibers, merino, cotton, or silk, natural chamois, had my leather shoes made old stye and hammered my cleats in with brass nails after my pedals marked the bottom of my shoes after riding cleatless. Sure I didn't have much money then, but I felt more connected with the trails, nature and the pure riding experience through my choices. But eventually fashion driven trends got the better of me, and I regressed back into the easy comforts offered by suspension and endless, meaningless consumer choice.