I think the point (accurate or not) was that building codes are what they are to accommodate crappy modern lumber. Although actually afaik older buildings are

I think the point (accurate or not) was that building codes are what they are to accommodate crappy modern lumber. Although actually afaik older buildings are often overbuilt because there was no engineering to figure out the least you could safely get away with. I agree with you that houses are more likely to rot than to break from under building and fall down, although events like decks collapsing during party or roofs collapsing in heavy snow do happen.