I remember this being a good apple in the past. Is it possible that modern practices of breeding and packing for shipping fitness have caused a decline in the quality?
Source: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/09/the-evil-...
My grandma has lived in Yakima, WA (major apple producer) for 80+ years and tells me all the time that the red delicious used to be a good apple, but was changed with the goal of being prettier, but lost flavor/texture.
Even the article you linked agrees:
"But as genes for beauty were favored over those for taste, the skins grew tough and bitter around mushy, sugar-soaked flesh. "