Broad long-term experience isn't considered irrelevant it's just not needed on a CV. If you haven't done it in the past 5 years you're probably just not that skilled at it anymore and if you have it's already on the CV in the newer role.
Are you just imagining those conversations because you said in 2 years you never made it to the interview stage.
You are blaming your failure on the topic of the original post so it is relevant.