Personally I think it was nicer years ago - I'm talking 50's and 60's - but you'd have to have been there to perhaps appreciate the difference. Of course, there was no internet or forum then, but you don't miss what you've never had and while it might be easy to dismiss some of the old ways - most were reliable and worked well.
I think that some of the recent differences of opinion that have become apparent on this forum indicate that there is a clear divide between the priorities of older and younger generations livng in FH - But that is probably the basis for a new thread.