This delightful thread reminded me of the fun I used to have with my Joes and TFs in the yard when I was a kid. It also made me realize something that had been at the back of my mind but I could never really articulate.
I love the modern design of action figures such as GI Joe. I like the articulation and posability, which allow for the diorama scenes I dreamt of as a kid. But they're not as 'fun' as the toys were when I was a kid. Don't get me wrong, this:
is a great figure. It's well made, looks good, and does a good job of representing Alpine.However, it's just missing something that this figure has:
It could just be nostalgia. Heck, it probably is just nostalgia. But there's just something in that original '85 mold that the '08 one just couldn't capture. It's not even a matter of difference between O-ring or modern construction. It goes more to the overall aesthetics. The characters of the '80's were just that, characters. Each figure, even if it was a frankenstein of other figures, save the head, had personality and was a character. Too many figures now are just 'generic specialist trooper #12'. Take any of the last half-dozen Dukes released, not even counting the movie-verse ones. None of them really screamed Duke. In fact, I use them without modding as various other characters because they're so nondescript. I think part of it goes to the goal of making the characters as realistic as can be done in a 4" format.
It's hard to make something that size that exudes character without quickly moving into being cartoonish or parody. This happened during the original run (I'm looking at you Cross Country, and you, Effects), but most of the time, it was well-done (hey, Tollbooth, you cocky SOB). A lot of the personalities my Joes had were developed as much from their faces as they were from their file cards. Look again at the two Alpines. The modern one, while looking great, is pretty generic in the face. But the original Alpine looks as if a smart alec comment is about to fire from his lips and hit Bazooka squarely between the eyes. As much as I like the modern line, it's been rare that they hit the mark with giving the toy a sense of character, rather than making it a movable piece of plastic.
The new figs often have pea-sized mini heads (Wild Bill!) and more realistic designs. But I totally agree with drbindy that certain features like working pistol holsters, knife sheaths, articulated wrists, etc. would have BLOWN MY MIND in the 80's. The level of detail and design is amazing at times (POC Low Light). 
