not know how horrible things are, because I know things in the 90s and 00s were horrid too, I was just too young to notice.

That’s nostalgia for you. When we were kids, our parents had fond memories of their early days. In 30 years, kids today will pine for these times. It’s how that works. It’s not universal, but more for most people, they remember fondly the time they were younger, healthier, had less responsibility and their whole lives ahead of them.