You are in Member Communities . Sure, I'll throw my two cents in, although you probably aren't going to like 'em. Totally disagree here. Although it's true that free weights can provide you a bit more control by relying on the stabilizers more, it's not correct to say that they are the only way to promote mass and definition.
Machines can, and have, provided solid workouts to a large group of people.
More likely, it's their youth that puts them above the elderly, who have a harder time realizing benefits from working out because age is constantly working against them. BTW, I've seen many older folks using free weights that are in excellent shape and workout just as hard as the younger folks. Most folks don't work out to an intense level and therefore don't achieve significant results. I disagree with this statement as stated. It depends on an individuals desires and goals as to what results they get.