“yeridas hadoros isn’t really a chidush”
It’s a phrase used for certain purposes. But it has its place. No doubt that the Talmidei Chachamim from 200 years ago were greater than the majority of today’s. We’ve read their achievements, and of their Yiras Shamayim. But it doesn’t mean that the generation as a whole looked better.
It is pretty much common knowledge that Torah is more widely learnt today than ever before.