Because with every recent character I've had, I've run into a lot of top notch characters. I played back then as well, and yes, Istendil was badass. The only flaw in your flashback is that characters like that were the exception, not the rule back then.

Kavan, Adelhard, Taera, Lucan, Gistle, Kharghurln(current empress that will never die), Gryshilniar, Isabaeux, Nuloh, Sekhuroth, Grunlath, Aeria, Dulmissa...these are just off the top of my head of characters I've ran across with some of my recent characters that raised the bar. I generally feel like I'm bringing something to the rp table with my own chars, Laenelis, Landren, etc. I think others are too.

If you aren't seeing it, I'm of the opinion you are either not paying attention or focusing so much on what you don't like you aren't seeing the amount of good that is out there.