Many of the old listed homes are in fact wood frames. My wife's parents have a home with parts built in the 1400's! Extensions were added on over the years (and they were able to add on their own tasteful extension) but the wood supports and frame are obvious as they show. And they're beautiful, massive pieces of wood that have supported the structure for hundreds of years and will for hundreds more.
However, it would be impractical to use those techniques today.
As for the styles of modern homes - blame the "volume housebuilders", it's like complaining that all Fords look the same.