Hey guys.
I agree with everything you've both said, but I think that modern gamers are as much to blame for all the soulless crap that gets released these days. It's all YouTubers and Twitchers, all jumping on the meme train, all rushing for the next collectible, achievement, daily quest, whatever. None of that crap makes good gameplay.
Most modern gamers don't care about multiple choice, they care about what Google tells them is the "meta" choice. Why waste time trying to solve a puzzle or quest when they can just in instantly get all the answers on their phone. That instant gratification is what ruins things.
That impatient and soulless approach to gaming is why most modern gamers just can't handle a slower games like Fallout, Jagged Alliance, Baldur's Gate, etc. The old games haven't aged badly, it's the modern players that have aged badly, and they're now the ones developing the games. It's the same with modern music and movies.
There are still some decent games these days, but they they always seem less willing to take chances like the older ones did. And who can blame them when everyone these days is so easily offended.