I have had a love affair with vintage for as long as I can remember. For me there's something exquisitely romantic about wearing an item from 50 or more years ago.
I remember when the thrift stores were full of treasures from the 60s and earlier that nobody wanted. It was heaven. My girlfriend and I used to spend a day each month op-shopping (we call them opportunity shops in Oz) and we almost always ended up with something fabulous. We didn't call it "vintage" in those days either....just old stuff.
These days it's a trend and sadly (for me) the treasures are few and far between. I have to get my fix from Ebay but it's not the same. I can't feel and try on anything...just hope for the best. It's difficult because some things can look positively dowdy....and regardless of how old or fabulous an item is, I won't wear it if it doesn't look great on.
I suspect that the "vintage trend" will eventually pass. I think it's a shame the way people are cashing in on the trend and trying to pass off junk as vintage. I've seen quite a bit of this on Ebay. Like Melisande said, second-hand does not = vintage. Vintage to me is 1970s or earlier.