Nostalgia lets people see everything through rose colourd glasses. I also gre up way before the internet.
Back then fixin bugs was a problem. "Premium editions" were just some artbooks or other stuff that was sld in addition to the disks for ungodly markup. Copy protection was a pain. etc.
Thre reason the industry moved to this model is solely the fault of all those people professing to love games. They suree like to play AAA games but as surely as they like to play them don't want to pay a fair price for them. The money to develop thme needs to come from somewher, though.
Ther are still games out there nt requiring constant internet. But what's the difference between selling "premium boxes" with vastly overpriced stuff or selling overprices optional skins?
Me personally I prefer to play a few games for a long time. I rather like it when they get continously expanded. (as long s the expansions ar decently priced)
Of course games, that get it wrong, go overboard on transactions are terrible. But then there are also those who geet it right.
Would you rather have Diablo 2 with it's static content or rather Path of exile with expandin content and options?