“Rosy retrospection” is the phenomenon.

Humans are flawed. We forget how much things suck and remember what was nice about them. That can be good in getting along better with other people - but it sure causes a lot of problems in a modern context.

No - the internet pre-eternal September was not perfect. Objectively speaking it was less useful and less helpful than the modern web. A bunch of old heads got mad that they couldn’t keep using the same crusty Monty Python jokes ad nauseam when they had to routinely interact with the general public.