In what ways does it seems the motivations and goals have changed? I’m particularly interested in this as I just rejoined YC as a partner after running a startup for five years. I first joined as a partner 10 years ago.
(Not a criticism, and I can see the merits of that choice. But, when I talk to my friends about YC that usually comes up.)
that's likely because before the success, there was no way anyone with the network would come to YC as a first port of call. And with technical partners able to judge the incoming seed company on the merits the founders themselves, YC managed to pick the successful ones (mostly - obviously there are failures).
When the success of YC's model became so prominent that it is a culture all on its own, the technical partners no longer work the same way as the old way. I don't think it's possible. So network, and human capital is used as a filter, rather than deal with the massive amounts of no-name people.
They can’t really afford that model, that’s why funding is being slashed: insiders successful in the 2010s are not better poised to be successful in the 2020s than outsiders, even if network and critical mass help them raise and burn money to have a more structured shot.