That's your subjective opinion on the changes.Making the game easier & more accessible does not improve the game, it only changes it.
Adding optional QOL features IS improving the game, as it is making the game easier and more accessible for those that choose to use those optional changes.
Prior to changes: fewer choices. Post-changes: more choices. More choices are an objective improvement.
Those challenges still exist, for those that want to do them without the optional QOL additions.There are challenges I have undertaken that are now trivial to complete.