Fuel hose deterioration

[Mk3alan]

Just had the CD mot'd for another year and prior to the event I had decided the under bonnet hoses were a bit on the hard side, they are the 32 year old originals.
Local parts supplier supplied the Ethanol compatible hose and I tackled fitment this afternoon.
Connections to the fuel rail are not particularly accessible so I lifted the throttle body off and removed inlet trunking.
What surprised me was the condition of the originals once off, no cracking even when fully bent!
Makes me wonder why I changed them although I will also change the even more inaccessible pressure regulator hoses next!

Alan