I've thought about this before (and it doesn't just apply to RPGs) - but what makes a lot of the Snes games great?
I think it has to do with their limitations. While new games are great, they're great for different reasons...probably for what they -can- do. Older games are often great (and remain with our consciousness) because of what they lack, and subsequently what gaps we have to fill in with our imaginations. Do you ever notice how our conceptions of classic game characters often differ from promotional game-art etc? I think a level of gamer subjectivity exists with old games that lacks in newer games.