Recently I happened to practice for a certain period on an antique upright piano, a late nineteenth-century Pleyel upright restored in the early 2000s,
despite a series of rather evident "limitations" of the instrument, foremost among them the poor tuning stability, the limited dynamic range, a timbre similar to a fortepiano, weak bass, difficulty playing inside the keys due to their slightly (but perceptibly) smaller dimensions compared to current ones, etc.. I must say it was an interesting and at times surprising experience.. I often had the sensation of playing on an extraordinarily "alive," responsive, human instrument.. as if the accents, the breaths, the intentions, one's own musical thought materialized with ease and fluidity. By comparison, modern pianos, despite their more advanced technology, sometimes appear to me more anonymous, colder, less "human"...
What you have noticed denotes sensitivity and is undoubtedly true. Once upon a time, everything was more human-scaled and anyone could see themselves reflected in every detail. Today, unfortunately, economy and finance have taken the place of ethics and faith and... despite companies doing their best to create masterpieces (and well-made pianos do still exist even today), that "sensitive" aspect you noticed no longer shines through. Dealing with the fateful "costs" will always have an effect on every object, work, manifestation and... the more, the merrier.
A beautiful observation nonetheless, I fully agree with what you say.
I think the post could also fit here. Perhaps in keyboard instruments technical specifications are treated in detail, whereas yours seemed like a reflection on both aspects; poetic/instrumental.
It could be that you have a sensitivity stirred by a charm contained in antique instruments, it happened to me too; I remember, for example, the smell of wood essences that could be strongly perceived from the soundboards of certain pianos, I understand, I understand, and I am in full agreement. Surely a Pleyel must be a beautiful piano nonetheless.
