It depends on what you want from photography. It's a very broad church (rather than being just one denomination, as previously suggested
), and I think that's a good thing as it makes for an interesting hobby. Some people have a job to do and a product to deliver and want to use the most effective and least time-consuming methods to achieve that, whilst others participate purely for enjoyment and have the time to 'stand and stare'.
I don't use 'vintage' lenses on modern AF cameras, mainly as I go the full hog and use them on vintage and classic cameras and film. That's because, in addition to enjoying my attempts to produce good looking photographs, I also enjoy the physical process of taking those photos. I'm not so fond of post processing though, so will try to match the camera and lens (and film) to produce the desired 'look'. However, some people will be just the opposite and prefer PP and/or using the most optically accurate lenses to achieve pixel-peeping perfection (although, at the risk of upsetting people, nothing is ever actually perfect!
).
As for effects, such as the swirly background a stopped down vintage Zeiss style triplet lens can produce, it's down to personal taste and one man's meat is another man's lava lamp. I don't generally use 'gimmicky' effects but, when I do, I like that effect to compliment the subject.
Time tunnel anyone? (and yes, I know I missed critical focus on the eyes - down to me not the lens!) Taken with a 1964 Yashica 635 TLR with fixed Yashikor triplet type lens shot wide open.