Straight skis were a quiver of one just because few bought more. Plus, what was the choice? Slalom, gs, ballet. Eliminate # 3 and you're down to 2. Not a huge difference there. If you were mogul obsessed you'd go slalom, powder gs. Maybe you'd do 200cm and 205.
If you couldn't ski powder on whatever, you didn't. That's why it lasted longer.
How old are you folks? I had a quiver of 2 from the later 70's through the 80's. (till I had some money for more than that!) And I was a Rossi guy, so that meant a SL ski, 200 or 203cm and the very needed bump ski in a 180 or 185cm. Life was good and skiing was fun (kinda like now!) Yes by comparison to skis made from say 2000 on, they are more work and require more technique (and practice) to get things done but I think most of you just forget what they did well too. I go back and forth on the same day and honestly like them both, for different reasons.
I encourage those who were schooled on them at least in the 80's and 90's to give them a try again. It's very interesting...really.
Current instructors (that means you
@James ) what is the current plan if a student shows up on say some early 90's 'straights' and want a lesson? Will the staff send someone out on the proper gear and show him how it's done? If not, why not?
And also would like for someone like
@Josh Matta who skis mega days and started skiing in the shaped era to get on some quality old boards and see what's what. I would find the feedback interesting