I don't suppose NATS or other ATC units had them quite like this!
Used them many years ago and found them functional and pretty robust. Engineers seemed to like because they could be easily repaired when necessary. The fetching, or otherwise, knickers were seen by some as not just a quick way to identify one's own headset but also a fashion statement. Personally, mine took on the 100-wash grey very soon after I got a new pair, and stayed that way until some new ones got ordered.
Don't use a headset professionally these days but modern ones may be a bit more comfortable - but not always - but rather flimsy and not inspiring confidence that it will work at that moment when you really need it to. But I'm clearly a luddite, I can recall the days of RDCE in NATS (at airports) and every 'advance' since then seems to have been a backward step from the users' perspective! I wonder whether it's an age thing, and whether younger people don't find some of these advances as much a hindrance as a benefit but I guess we can't stop progress
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PS - apologies for the rambling thread drift.