For most people, finding the result they're looking for is probably easier, partially because they're not that picky, and because things like integrating Google Maps into Google makes finding places easier. For a specific group (concentrated here on HN) finding the exact right result has become more difficult, in part because search engines no longer strictly adhere to some operators.

In parallel, the internet just changed, which means "the best result" may just be a worse one. In part because of search engines, and SEO. If you want a recipe, now the best recipe may just be the one that has a long description of the author's relationship with their mother who used to cook this dish, which you have to skip, because of SEO.