mw13, please define better. I was under the impression that if you follow the Torah (as paskened by your rav), you are an observant Jew. Different people relate to Torah observance differently, and as long as you are within halacha there is no real “better.” I could never lead the life of a chasid and I don’t expect a chasid to live MO. Its philosophically different, but still comes to the same conclusion of avodas Hashem.
I don’t know how much MO you have been exposed to, but the younger generation is more knowledgeable and generally keeps halacha. Our parents generation often did things from lack of knowledge, not a desire to break halacha. Please understand the distinction.