@Eric Lyon ,
what you mention is not older *domains* you refer to older *websites* . If you get a domain name and keep it without any content for years, it won't rank 'easier' nor achieve any backlinks, in fact G will probably de-index it since it will have no content.
And, please, this is not a topic about age. Providing a wall of text with facts is unnecessary. You could just have pointed out a few things about it, just a few bullet points would have suffice to help me understand and do my own research if needed.