Some people prefer the old days, where there was only you vs. an entire arcade, fighting for survival (and most likely so you don't burn your entire paycheck trying to run it back). Back when, there was no help, you wanted to step up your game, you had to figure it out by yourself, there were no tutorials, no watching streams from better players, you either had to figure it out on your own, or go to where the better players were and get killed and level up that way. It also made coast and state wars more closeknit and secret tech was actually secret. Back when you'd never play your actual main in public until an actual tourney. Not to mention, there were no button checks, you either learned the layout on the machine, or you just didn't play.
Some prefer it now, more social interaction with top players, tutorials aplenty, streams to watch high level play, internet play so you don't have to go out to the arcade and possibly burn your paycheck (though considering what you would spend on Internet connection, a console, the game and possibly XBL? Meh). The ability to customize how you want your buttons, and the ability to have your own special pad or stick, hell, just the ability to have a pad. There's also no secrets, whatever you think you figured out on your own was probably done days prior by someone else and up on Youtube for everyone to see. More top players gathering around for big majors. I mean before, you'd get maybe a few from across a country and maybe ONE or two International players, but now, look at CC where there were enoguh to run a huge ass Round Robin International 5v5 event.
I don't think either is better than the other, it's all a matter of personal preference.
