I agree with your thoughts here.
Legacy is important, especially if respected and nurtured.
The spirit of the brand is indeed embodied in its products, which very much influences my purchasing habits regardless of marketing tag lines.
I suspect other Purists have similar sentiments. What the brand truly represents--true luxury, I'll call it--as distinct from bought-and-paid-for-luxury (a la mass marketing, VIP parties and celebrity endorsements), is what matters most.
Cheers,
John