There are a lot of mistakes that make it in to common code when people only test with one architecture.
Also, the environmental cost of manufacturing new hardware is often greater than even a decade of running less efficient, older hardware longer.
To add to that, Alphas and older Sun systems are actually proper server hardware. There are differences that you may never learn about in the x86 world. I've been running an AlphaServer DS25 for years now, and it's worlds better hardware quality than any x86 server product you can buy now.
I am having trouble believing that the environmental impact of a running a server from 2002 is lower than buying a machine that is 2-3 orders of magnitude more efficient.
Also, the environmental cost of manufacturing new hardware is often greater than even a decade of running less efficient, older hardware longer.
To add to that, Alphas and older Sun systems are actually proper server hardware. There are differences that you may never learn about in the x86 world. I've been running an AlphaServer DS25 for years now, and it's worlds better hardware quality than any x86 server product you can buy now.