What you say Daeriion would be my guess too. If you look at the way MMO’s have evolved over time, it’s quite clear. MMO’s that tried to appeal to a more hardcore crowd sank or are in the process of sinking. I think only games that are not MMO’s and preferably singleplayer can survive being hard, because there is no way you as a player can force strangers to play optimally. So instead of having people improve organically over time, you get a lot of complaining on both sides haha.

Personally I do enjoy it when trash hits harder. When roles matter. When cc has a use. It promotes teamplay and consideration of your fellow players and how classes mesh together. But I don’t know whether one should wish for a return of that there where everyone plays with everyone. It’s just not everyone’s cup of tea. And where one can feel it promotes better play, another will experience it as punishment and exclusion.