I still remember hearing opinions of people who shared this sentiment. The entertainment industry has produced a few guffaws as well. In fact, misguided experts embarrass themselves in nearly every field of endeavor. I suppose the inventiveness of 19th century inventors left him pretty much blown away and incapable of conceiving anything new. If you listen around, you'll hear experts cited in our industry, too.
Synthetics are too expensive.
Oil should be changed every three thousand miles, even if it's synthetic. I suppose it does me little good to quote experts who think otherwise. I beg to differ. Extending drain intervals may provide an opportunity to make more money. Quick lube operators can begin to charge a premium for a high end synthetic motor oil and a lower price for conventional petroleum products.