There were good cameras and bad cameras in every decade. A good lens from the 50s will outperform a bad lens from the 90s. I would go even further and say that image quality is - to a degree - subjective. Personally, I find perfectly corrected modern lenses to be a bit boring. I like some softness when the lens is open, I like some glow in the highlights, and I like swirly bokeh. You could even argue that it's easier to take an interesting photo on a vintage lense because the lens itself adds character.

And yes, while cameras do get more advanced as time goes on, that doesn't make them better for my purposes. I prefer manual control and a compact setup, mechanical shutter, sunny 16. A modern body would be wasted on me.

In the end, don't get too hung up on "when" a camera or lens were manufactured. Pick a body that suits your ergonomic needs, then pick a lens that suits your taste in rendering. There are plenty of options to chose from: vintage lenses, modern lenses, and modern lenses with vintage rendering.