The 3rd generation iPod only comes with the microphone because of the fact it has the voice recording app, but no built-in microphone. There's no point in adding a mic to earbuds with an iPod that can't use it, right? The second gen was incompatible with the app, and the 4th generation comes with a built-in microphone to the iPod itself, so it's unnecessary.
Define "old" iPod. Was it a third gen? Otherwise, if you think about it, there was no point in giving you earbuds with a mic built into it. I also like how you quote something I said when it wasn't even directed towards you. You must really like being an elitist and all.