You're absolutely correct that passenger experience on these large planes are fairly inferior to modern, smaller ones today (for everyone not in first class) bu

You're absolutely correct that passenger experience on these large planes are fairly inferior to modern, smaller ones today (for everyone not in first class) but it's the 747's historical impact that stirs up the nostalgia. When it first entered service in the 70s, the 747 was the aircraft that democratized travel in its time. Its massive capacity cut ticket prices in half while its range enabled new direct flights. It's also this engineering marvel. The 747 dwarfed its next closest competitor in size and was not only the first double decker, but also the first widebody plane ever introduced. Engineers in the 60s created it with their pre-CAD tools and modern aircraft are built on their work. Even though the economics of the plane were terrible, many airlines still flew it because it was such a massive leap forward in progress. Even today, it stands out at airports as a truly iconic design among the other fairly homogenous planes. While the 747 no longer really fits into today's economic environment, it's still fondly remembered for its role in getting us here.