My biggest issue with some of the 'beater' cars I've seen is that they're rusting and being left that way. My gut tells me cool old cars are to be treasured and maintained and it just seems wrong to let rust consume what would otherwise be a restorable body, etc. That said, I totally agree with what others have said that people can do whatever they want to their own cars .... I just don't have to watch!
Later, Jim