Your suspension fork is basically just a spring, that doesn’t wear out. If it feels softer it’s probably just sliding easier than it did when new.

The wide handlebars are part of a whole different style of design with raked out steering, 120+ mm fork travel, a longer front triangle and dropper seat post. The idea is to get you off the seat and over the back wheel and the front can plow through and over the trail. Most bike-store mountain bikes are like this now but it hasn’t made it to the Walmart bikes yet.