I mean, maybe? It depends on the person, doesn't it?
For example, the retro that I want to play is BECM/Rules Cyclopedia, and it's available electrinically on DriveThruRPG for $10, or Print-On-Demand for $21. That is not "prohibitively expensive" for me...I could buy both formats for less than a single hardcopy of the current edition's Player's Handbook.
I mean no disrespect to OSE (which is free, and is an excellent product, and everyone should have a copy in their library). The point I'm trying to make is: if you want to play an older edition of D&D, you can play that older edition.