The average modern human works more hours than someone did as a hunter gatherer. Of course if you care about technology and stuff you prefer moder time. I disagree about 20-40 years ago as well, people were paid a lot more compared to know and it was easier to afford housing and education.
30 years ago 35% of the world population lived in extreme poverty, now number is less than 10%. Do tell me more how people made more money back then.
In countries like the United States it was a lot easier to live, Wages have dropped while CEO pay and wealth inequality has grown. I had relatives making the equivalent of $40 in today's money out of high school in a factory. Now people are lucky to be paid 10 bucks an hour in a lot of places. And look how much more it costs for a college degree compared to the 1960s and 1970s.