Yes, things have changed. When I was growing up in Montana in the 70s and early 80s most people over 12 had a Buck lockback on their belt...you were some kind of hippie weirdo if you didn't. Now days your a weirdo if you have a knife on your belt...a throwback neanderthal.

The hiking public now days is more about carrying everything with them, I doubt that most of them could build a fire if their life depended on it. Real ultra light backpacking means no stoves and not packing in all your food, you have to live off the land for at least some of your food, and actually build fires and shelters