There are some great options on mobile from third parties if that might work well for you:

Apollo for iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/apollo-for-reddit/id979274575

Boost, for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rubenmayay...

Hopefully on desktops old.reddit sticks around forever. https://redditenhancementsuite.com/ is essential.

There is also the little-known ". compact".

E.g. https://www.reddit.com/.compact

100% agree as a user of 12 years, and I'm getting pretty close to quitting because if the shenanigans they're pulling recently with making links not work for old reddit by inserting slashes.

If I wanted a Fisher Price styled social media thing full of user avatars and giant gifs, I'd use Facebook.