Thinking about it, my first "proper" MTB back in the 90's would be right at home on this thread But times were different then, and I didn't know any better.
Now I have no excuses....
it actually looks pretty good when you see it; my daughters fiancé Joes father had a Claude Butler racer back in his day, and Joe wanted to get him another for his 60th birthday, but it had to be 'blingy...'
...so 'blingy' he got; it all works very well though, including the canti's pulled by the drop levers