While I'm sure there's a large audience for all these highly realistic looking sets using tons of custom parts, I can't get myself to like them. I love the 8880 set for showing how much can be achieved in functionality and aesthetics by adhering to universal building blocks.
I was going to say that the 8880 also did have some special parts, or ones that at least I wasn't aware of existing in other sets at the time. The ball joints used for steering and power on the same wheels (I don't know what they're called), probably some parts in the transmission, etc.
I really had no idea what's been happening in Lego since the mid 90's, though. Looking at the set GP linked to, it probably has a much more custom parts than the 90's ones even if those also sometimes had specialized parts, and I'd have to agree with you.
Ha ha, spent a day building a differential out of raw Technic parts — the thing was the size of a lemon. Then saw they introduced a specific differential part for Technic — the size of an acorn.