That physique is better than the current Mr. O's. If he stepped on stage like that today, he should still win. Zero progress in 33 years.
While I agree with you that Arnold could and should win with this pictured physique in todays line-up. I do not agree with the zero progress in 33 years. First of all, the human body is only cabable of so much improvement in muscular mass and quality. There really are limitations to everything in life. Bodybuilding is not really a sport, more of a pagent. I do not care what anyone says or thinks about this. Therefor at a pagent natural genetics is what generally comes first then overall presentation 2nd, then talent and charisma.
Bodybuilding has stepped up in some areas such as the leg dept. It has scaled down in the presentation dept. Too many guys look like pharmacutical blimps. No guy like this can live very long nor have a quality lifestyle. Most pro-bodybuilders are so out of shape that fucking would leave them in near cardiac arrest. Yes most current pros are out of shape. Listen to the way they talk when they are just walking around, they sound as though they just ran a 5 mile run.
Bodybuilding has most definetly regressed.