You may be right, but I am not convinced and l really don't know how we could measure such things for a comparison. Memories are also subjective too, we usually pass down the most inspiring recollections.
In my opinion the demands or requirements of life and racing have changed too, more so than the character of people. In short I think every generation had and has high and low achievers. There will always be hard workers and some lazy or soft people. I can agree that people had to deal with cruder and harsher conditions back in the day. But l see poeple currently working as many hours as ever if not more, and most businesses or employers are more productive as a matter of survival. In other words they they are constantly working to remove dead weight or those who are unproductive.
Back to racing and some more of the obvious : As a prerequisite drivers had to be more mechanically inclined years ago. The driver development changes through the years demonstrate the point. The road or doorway to getting a cup ride is different as well. For example the current demands for a driver to be more savvy at social media requires a softer skill set but it does not necessarily mean the current driver is a softie. The added on disciplines will also leave less time for shop work, or at least be divided by a drivers need to satisfy sponsors and the shop.
The driver gets to fly to the track and other places more. But he is also expected to shake more hands than ever, and that is work too, just a different type.
The ideas about softness and strengths, or soft skills verses hard skills can also be deceptive. And the argument can be made that it takes more mental strength or maturity to be a modern day driver. More mistakes and moments of poor representation or judgment can and will be reported now. Leaving less opportunities to blow off some steam in the shop etc....
Note : l tried to convey a lot of thoughts, hopefully it isn't to scattered or a senseless read.
Ew, no.
