There's a sense out there in the cycling world that cup-and-cone hubs are about as technologically advanced as the horse and buggy, and that the only reason this bearing system isn't used on more hubs is that the 'sealed' cartridge bearing is an inherently better system. Not true. It's more complicated than that.
Exploring (and Maintaining) the Humble Cup and Cone
Exploring (and Maintaining) the Humble Cup and Cone