Why is technology so terrible in 2021? It seemed better years ago

I'm sure you understand not everyone has access to Broadband. Not to worry, President Biden's plan, includes money to make Broadband available to everyone.

Likely because it’s going out over someone’s shitty home Internet connection, and then being reshot with a camera that has a completely different frame rate.

I've definitely noticed. It's choppy even on the network news. The phone is strange, a malingerer becomes a "ma-a- li- iing gEr -ER..." when I say it.
It's like watching and stopping us from talking is more important than letting us get through. Just looking at all these comments that gaslight you, I'd say you're onto something.

Because 5 years ago you were looking at the same quality through a screen with smaller resolution, probably. A 480p video on a 1080, 2k, or even worse 4k screen look much uglier than the same video on a 480/720p one.

You mean why technology haven't fully updated? That's actually a good thing

It seems pretty good.
The commercials mess it up.😉

Facia=

Technology is getting better, not worse.