There's two separate issues with "FTP" -- the first is that credentials are transmitted in the clear. Not really an issue if you're running a read-only anon FTP site anyway. The other is that FTP server programs can sometimes be used to attack other machines on a network or other programs on a machine.
So, FTP itself is fine, so long as you use an FTPd that doesn't have issues like that (AppleShare IP would be a hilarious option) or something really modern from a patched system.
That said -- in the olden days, I did most of my file transfers with Hotline. These days, plain HTML directory listings or FTP would probably be the most useful if somebody was posting a copy of the Apple Older Software Downloads, or whatever that space was called.
In terms of "If you had a System 7 machine and wanted to get stuff on it" -- a good example to look at might be System7Today.com, which is fairly browsable with version 4 browsers. I'll probably work in version 3 browsers too.
So, FTP itself is fine, so long as you use an FTPd that doesn't have issues like that (AppleShare IP would be a hilarious option) or something really modern from a patched system.
That said -- in the olden days, I did most of my file transfers with Hotline. These days, plain HTML directory listings or FTP would probably be the most useful if somebody was posting a copy of the Apple Older Software Downloads, or whatever that space was called.
In terms of "If you had a System 7 machine and wanted to get stuff on it" -- a good example to look at might be System7Today.com, which is fairly browsable with version 4 browsers. I'll probably work in version 3 browsers too.