“streamlining” is definitely happening. A lot is to just keep that serotonin going with happy rewards.
1 person I was talking to mentioned it might also be a change because of target. Zelda botw/totk was ment to be played in short burst while on train or a quick shrine or so before bed. Thus the bigger puzzles and things that requires a longer play (to avoid the wtf what is happening when I played yesterday question) are being phased down