> Aspect ratio by itself tells you very little about the theatrical viewing experience.

Yes, but also no.

to a whole generation of millenials -> boomers 4:3 == analogue and or cheap, "widescreen" is HD and better quality.

Thats why a lot of people were really happy to have streched 4:3->16:9 because wide screen == more modern and higher resolution. Unless you acutally care about that sort of thing you're never really twig that its just streched. I mean sure of you ask people about and compare side by side, they'll go "oh yeah"

The point now is that 4:3 is a allusion to a specific point in time, in the same way techincolour, or black and white, noir or infomercial are.