TimB the rim is such a huge part of the sound. Between the rim and the scale design you have two things that are really only found on this particular type of Piano. Most Pianos have a spruce soundboard, but the rim material has a wider variance in wood type and ply count, separating the Pianos that are worth restoration and the ones that aren't. Also, soundboards have a slight "crown" or very slight rounded shape upward. This crown can settle over decades and severely diminish resonance, thus the need for a new soundboard.

Unless they replaced it with the same wood that's been aged in the forest longer.

That's a fairly loaded question. It depends on who and what time frame you're talking about. For example, you may not be able to compare the late Vladimir Horowitz with say a pianist like Lang Lang. Both were/are excellent and virtuosic pianists, however, with advancement in technology and booming industries, Lang Lang might have acquired the same money pool if not more because of this. It all depends on the pianist and the time frame.