Yes, this is my first indexed shifting experience, and they certainly do seem clunky and inelegant. I am a fossil, yes. :-) I guess my amazement is that the low end has moved so little in 50 years, or maybe gone backwards, even. Maybe I would be happier with friction shifters?
The bike is a few months old now, but I will certainly try lubing the cables anyway, thanks. it can't hurt.
After a decade or so away from riding my thought was that I would put money into a new bike rather than replacing the tubular-tired wheels on the old one, but perhaps that was the wrong decision. That's still an option.