alt Hacker News> We simply have different priorities. I don't remember who it was who said this, but if you want to know what a society worships and holds in highest regard, look for the tallest building in the city.
I remember reading an article on HN about how people stated that they preferred traditional Western architecture styles, but what was built by architects was something very different. It was presented as revealed preferences contradicting stated preferences.[1]
But I think it is more about priorities, like you said in your first sentence. People may prefer traditional styles, but individuals have limited power/time, and there are other things to worry about, so their effort goes elsewhere, not on supporting their preferred architectural styles.