Tbh i don't think the acting was any better, neither was the directing. I know there used to be much more plot-driven films back in the day, even feature films with characters that were somewhat well developed. And today every body is just either dad/son/sibling which says a lot about the viewer base...
I'd like to have those plot-driven porn making a comeback, but not in a pathetic attempt of making an art essay like some recent attempts from known directors, such as Noel Alejandro. I'd prefer something that is still more porn than film, just with a backbone to pave the way and enhance the action.
One thing that I don't miss for sure are the condoms, and one thing that I miss like hell are the pubes and body hair, today it seems like everybody is a hairy hunk with just a few whispies down there...
And if we are to get a half-assed plot with a cringy performance, there's nothing wrong with skipping it altogether and going straight to the action. It works well, specially for big stars. I mean, it's impossible for me to see Teddy Torres and don't immediatelly see Teddy Torres, which is character already, not a real person, and it's a character I'm familiar with, I know he's a porn performer.