I think there is a often a replacement cost below which bicycles will not be referred to by name, model and year.
As a cyclist of many decades, I recall when even if someone had a Colnago or similar, it was just referred to as a bike.
The fascination with marque, model and year seems to have started with the latter part of the MTB growth curve.
I think a different breed of enthusiast has (up to a point) become interested in cycling in the past decade or so - logically, as everyone gets older and deader over time. This, combined with higher disposable incomes over the same period and the Brett Easton Ellis lust for brand names, has resulted in threads entitled
'Loving my 2012 Cube Fantasticon'.
It reminds me of a friend of ours who spilt something on her arm at a picnic and yelled "Oh my God! My Patek Philippe!" It was said entirely for effect, but I just thought "Silly girl, wearing a nice watch to a picnic".
I love the way the cycle industry has blossomed and expanded and sucked in so many new enthusiasts, but I groan sometimes at hilltop breaks when I hear the newly enthused restricting their chatter entirely to component cost and model year.
Similarly, I giggle at the competitive fact swapping by pro-cycling fans.... They're just bloody bike races. You didn't invent them or anything and most people would keep quiet about that level of geekery.
Yes, you are quite right; I am indeed middle aged.