That switch happened some years ago. I've been unlearning and relearning how to use google for what feels like at least three or four years now.
The main pain-point, though, is that a lot of long-tail searches you could've used to find different results in years past, now seem to funnel you to the same set of results based on your apparent intent. At least, it has felt that way -- I'm not entirely sure how the modern google algorithm works.
I realized this a few years ago when I observed my wife find things faster on Google than me.
I appreciate that it is easier for newcomers but I still hate it personally after years and especially that they cannot even avoid meddling with my queries even when I try to accept the new system and use the verbatim option.
The main pain-point, though, is that a lot of long-tail searches you could've used to find different results in years past, now seem to funnel you to the same set of results based on your apparent intent. At least, it has felt that way -- I'm not entirely sure how the modern google algorithm works.