My account is 10 years old now. The game is definitely worse than it was. Not because of the new combat or the new game mechanics, but just because of the dying economy. Because of bots, skilling costs money now, rather than making it. The entire game is a juggle of making money to raise skills, then skilling, then raising money to raise skills, etc.
It was the same when I left, some 5 years ago or so. Even then, RS still had the best quests in any MMO ever, ya. It was worth to pay $5 for quests alone, not sure how now things are. I did some questing couple of years ago again, for a month, just to remember how good they are.
My accounts must be really really old, as I can't even remember how old!