You're absolutely right, which is exactly why it's just a marketing term now (imo). There's amazing games that stay in early access for years and years with near monthly content updates, but at the same time, some early access games are complete garbage and the devs never intend to complete the game. They leave it as ea to sell copies to people who hope it will one day get better… But never does.
Sometimes it's obvious it's abandonware that hasn't had an update in two years, but sometimes not so obvious.
I feel this too. I could only guess at the cause. Maybe it's just the demographics of social media swinging younger, or those struggling simply being more vocal online. Both? Neither?
I'm an older millennial, but do own a home and have kids. I have friends and acquaintances, - some who didn't go to college - that also own homes and have kids. Sure, the houses might be modest (and include PMI payments for some), and nobody's taking lavish vacations every year, but it's certainly not as bleak as my social feeds always make it out to be.