I agree.
Everything about tech is faster / easier / more fun compared to even a decade ago.
High quality test equipment is a fraction of the cost. Specialized integrated circuits are abundant and very inexpensive. The culture of "sharing, sharing, sharing" on the Internet via forums, blogs, code repos and videos (YT) binds it all together.
We truly live in remarkable times. I imagine in a few under years people will be able to order an entire quantum gravity amplifier chip, or the latest warp drive module, on
AliExpress for $2. LOL
Back to 2020, I will order various ESP32 modules as soon as the Chinese sellers start shipping again.