The old lens make a photographer myth,, and bait,, my first 8 years with a Nikon was with two lens,, 1 50mm and the hated,, 43-86 zoom,, granted it was the later 43-86 improved version,, but once a lens is dammed always dammed.
lens are part of the tool kit, and actually the 18-55 is a very sharp lens, that does its job fine within the context of its design.. Let see
bright light, close subject, sure,, a nice lens.
I have collected lens over time,, because I wanted some type of extension to my photography, such as more reach, or low light, or macro, or ultra wide angle, or flexible zoom, or etc etc etc,
its a matter of matching the lens to the subject at hand,, why we have an interchangeable lens system,, otherwise, buy a nice high
end 3/4 sensor all in one camera.
My biggest complaints on lens is the distortion,, and second is the aberration, sharpness is actually low on my complaints.
but in the end,, its the subject, lighting, and my abilities to frame the shot that makes the shot work or not,,