HH...you don't see many 85 year old designs still in front line use...
HMMMMM. The B-52 is very much still in "front line use" and it's first flight was way back in 1952 and was (loosely) based on a 1946 design. The NEWEST B-52 was built back in 1962. The BUFF will still be flying well into the middle of this century. It's already a third generation bomber (3rd generation in that 3 generations of pilots have flown the same tail number aircraft.) and will likely be a fifth or sixth generation bomber before it is finally retired.
As for the 747-8 not providing a "cutting edge image", name ANY airliner that would provide a more "cutting edge image".