No. If anything, the reverse. Quality of bike parts at the top end is stratospheric—in terms of material science, manufacturing precision, and design, they're beyond anything we could have imagined 20 years ago. And quality has been trickling down the lines to the lesser parts all along. So the low-end parts you buy today may rival or exceed high-end parts from 20 years ago.

Parts have become more fussy though. Placed under more exacting demands. Over that 20 years, we've gone for 5 or 6-speed drivetrains to 9, 10, or even 11-speed drivetrains. Chains are narrower and need special pins. I get the impression there are more fixtures where you really need to use a torque wrench to safely tighten them.

It's possible you got lucky with your old bike, and/or got unlucky with your current bike. FWIW, I broke the axle on a Dura Ace-equipped road bike that I bought in 1985 and never road off-road. And pitted the headset. It happens.