Hey Dudeman,
It's come down to a number of intangible things including romance and history.
Some people like the fact that their watch is fully mechanical and void of all electronics and batteries. They like the idea that their watch is a living breathing piece of art that has both a proven pedigree and a rich history.
Even though the mechanical watch requires servicing every five years or so, some people just love the sound of the second hand beating eight times in one second and the knowledge that if all technology fails, as long as they keep ticking so will their watch.
Then there is the Quartz which in itself is an incredible achievement. Most would argue that a Quartz is by far the superior time keeper, they are in most cases more accurate than their mechanical counterparts. They lack the soul of the mechanical watch however and I think this is the crux of the debate.
I think I remember someone putting it like this, if you love the romantic heritage and you're not pedantic about the exact time and you want a pet watch, buy a mechanical. If however you want a very accurate no fuss time keeper, buy the quartz.
Mechanicals are the type of watches that get passed on from father to son. Which is why I bought a 2254.50.