They are no 80's cantilevers - cantilevers have been around almost as long as a bicycle has been invented.
Cantilevers are still alive and well in cyclocross and touring frames.
If I can, my everyday bikes, the ones that get covered in my local clay, they will run a disc of some sought up front. Nowt worse than metal and mud wearing down a nice rim.
The summer / dry bikes will run whatever happens to be on them at the time.
But I want drum brakes again...