Is it really? I disagree strongly on all points, but know where you are coming from by an intuitive sense. I am a dev since the 80th and know how to make 64kb do wonders. It just took us years to find out.

You present no proof only touchy feely it must be so otherwise pseudo proof like software longevity is on the line.

Please first define software longevity quality in detailed terms: what is it exactly and how to you assess it regarsing quality and quantity?

Doom is judged by myself and by its versatility a masterpiece however, we all know and the Black Book is quite open about it the code itself is arguably not hitting modern standards as of today and there is a infamous WTF hardcoded value used to do speed code. So what? It inspired a whole generation. Second reality? A mindbender demo that accelerated quite a few finish developer careers has sadly forgotten after it was once considered for decades to be for the demo scene on PC what Doom was for the underground gamer scene. A nice match anyway.

Is Windows a masterpiece or not? Judging by its UX/UI definitely not, by its versatility and transposable potential I would rate it a masterpiece.

1000th of developers work on some code basis which change chipsets and compiler settings quite significantly - so there are ups and downs even in domains where a simple deadline and a requirement change suddenly makes technological prowess useless trash.

And the most heretical question ever: what if your so called number one quality software product might fool you and - could be way better done? You didn’t even consider that option which makes your point shaky to say the least.