4 things changed pool forever:
Diamond tables, specifically proliferation of "deep shelf" pockets and fast cushions
Simonis cloth or equivalent (being universal at all tournaments)
Template racks
Alternate break
Together these things contributed to the demise of the "explosive, powerhouse rhytm guy." Rodney Morris, Earl Strickland, Bustamante, those kinds of players. These are characterized by having big breaks, fast playing style, extreme rack running ability (when in rhytm) and strong strokes. All of their advantages have been taken away by the above changes. Sure, their type could still be a top shelf pro, but they now risk losing to people that they might have beaten 11-2 under the old conditions. Those guys were fun to watch and their skill set is not easily tought or aquired, These are more or less natural abilities.
Newer pool matches are just boring to watch compared to older ones, even if there are less misses. I haven't seen a 3 rail draw shot in 20 years of watching professional competition I have to watch old Accu-Stats for that. That shot is no longer needed and is too low a percentage on newer tables, while it could be- and often was a match winner in slower conditions.