I would have thought that nearly all advancements will have led to engines being more at risk from ash encounters.
As you design for effeciency the tolerences get smaller and smaller. Anything which distorts or alters the system will have greater and great effect on the over all system.
Car engines are an example and old carb low pressure ratio engine could take serious abuse. Timing belt goes stick another one in set the timing and carry on. Modern high pressure ratio engine timing belt goes you have bent valves cam shaft replaced seals blown and it has to go into the workshop to get the electronics sorted out.