I built myself a cool one out of a retro 80s MTB frame and it does look quite snazzy if I do say so myself and every second stop a middle aged white dude either gives me the nod or straight up chats me up about it. This has never happened with my other bicycles, but it absolutely happened with my old singlespeed.
yeah, nailed it, they often talk about how they used to ride roadbikes or singlespeeds but now their backs don’t really agree anymore and how glad they are that young people are still wrenching on bikes. YMMV as to whether that’s just joy or goes to “you’re one of the good ones”