Maybe we are talking apples, and oranges here. I don't have a problem with demonstrating the abilities of an old field ready tractor, it is not much different from what they were made for. But, in my opinion, once the machine tools start cutting, and the add-ons are bolted up, that destroys any reasonable attempt of complying with the reversability principle. Or in other words, it can't be put back easily. I did some drag racing about 30-35 years ago, I know that in order to get big horsepower machining is required, at least it was on the 426 Hemi engine. I wish I had left them as they were, as those old stock engines are worth a fortune now. Similar to pullers, often these engines were sacrificed for a few seconds of glory. Sometimes when a person is young, stupid things are done, I was no exception. Fortunately, Ramchargers began producing application specific parts for drag racing. This saved lots of the parts that are available to car collectors, specifically Mopar, today.
Yes, it is the owners perogative, just like in the 50's when as a child, I would go to the livestock auction with my father, and see fine, well trained teams of draft horses sold for nearly nothing, because tractors had replaced them. I always wanted Dad to buy some of them, maybe I would get to ride them the 50 miles or so home. Well he didn't, and I probably would have gotten lost. The horses went to the glue factory in Columbus, Ohio. These were still good productive work horses. My Great Grandfather, Austin Clark, was a horse farmer, he had respect for horses. When a horse of his got too old to work, he told me, she had served him well, so, he would put her out to pasture, letting her live out her life in retirement. He would never have considered sending one of his horses to the glue factory, but then again, he was a REAL horseman. But, it was the owners perogative!
The same thing with the old steam engines, I've seen many being cut up at the scrapyard, and history was lost forever, but, it was the owners perogative!
Now, the fine draft horses, and steam engines are a dying breed, because they weren't preserved.
With the agriculture industry going more and more in the direction of job specific machinery, it can only be a matter of time before the general purpose farm tractor goes the way of the horses, and steam engines.
As a member of this association, I try to do my part in caring and preserving these old machines. Mine are in semi retirement, a few days each year they get to demonstrate what they once would do in a workday, but I make sure they are never overworked, take breaks, and get loving care to be well maintained.
 I don't believe we should promote activity which is destructive to this machinery, not does our mission statement, or Article 1, section B, of our Bylaws.

Have a great day!!!
Andy