I was an instructor in the 90s and I’ve returned for an FTRS post now. Things are different, not better or worse, just different. Firstly and most important, the students coming through now are the highest aptitude scorers, meaning input average standard is higher. We don’t concentrate so much on low level flying, massively reducing the risk. The aircraft are higher spec and more reliable. That increases required management skills but reduces the need for handling skills. We have reduced the drinking culture, that matters!
I repeat, it’s different nowadays, you cannot compare