What's up with parquet floors?

Kind of a random post for a Friday...What's the deal with parquet flooring? I mean, it's in every single apartment I have even been in that was built between 1970-1990ish. You can just look at the outside of an apartment building and instantly you will know whether or not it has parquet floors. Whoever invented the 'parquet' design would be the richest person in the world if he/she got royalties for every apartment that sported the never ever been stylish flooring.