The current stuff isn't really different from anything else Konami has done. Everything is them pushing new stuff over the old with power creep, ban lists, and marketing because that's how they make money. Right now Konami is pushing Links over the other card types, but that happened when those previous types were releaseed as well.
It is.
They locked every single combo with the old mechanics behind Links.
You didn't need Synchros to Fuse or Ritual Summon, you didn't need an Xyz on the field to Synchro, and the whole point of Pendulum was to make the previous mechanics better.
Power Creep/Ban List to phase out decks happens in every TCG but this is the first time in YGO they actively hurt a gameplay element to sell cards.
Stardust Dragon might not have been too hot during the Wind-Up's rule. But you could still use your goddamn Stardust like you always used to.
That freedom was taken away.
In fact, I think people would've accepted the Extra Monster Zone limitation far better if it just meant the Extra Card goes to that zone first and then moves to the Main Zones next turn, THAT would slow the game and still give you access to combos.
Having the brand new monsters "unlock" the zones for you is a slap in the face. Feels like the TCG equivalent of microtransactions