I read OP a little differently. While I agree with you that there is a tendency to look back on past trips (to anywhere) and remember the fun more than the hassle, I read OP to make the point that Disney has been increasing prices and either taking away park opportunities or reducing the quality of those opportunities. That's more than rose colored glasses.
I'll give an example. Until about 2008 (I don't recall exactly), Disney charged the seasonal room rate based on when the guest checked in. So, if you checked in on December 15, you didn't pay the holiday rate even if your stay though the change to holiday rates. That was a great perk that enabled me to stay in deluxe hotels. Did I get mad at Disney for changing this? Of course not. But it did affect whether I stayed in a deluxe over the holidays (never again, as it turns out). To me, OP's point was about the value of a trip.
That said, I'll admit COVID-19 has changed how I think about a Disney vacation. It isn't that I begrudge Disney for wanting to make up for losses during the pandemic. It's more that the way Disney is going about making a profit make going to WDW less appealing to me than other trips I can take. (Not all of the changes post-date the pandemic, either, and I'll admit to having other, non-DIsney caused reasons for not going to WDW right now).