I do detect a certain rose tinted aspect to this. I can't say on a full LGW-JER flight before BoB the crew would have any time to stop and talk. The same was true on many other DOM and Band 1/2 routes.
The reality as always is money. BA are not imposing this in their customers - they are giving their customers what they are prepared to pay for.
CE is now an excellent product (unless you are very tall or obsessed with size for some reason). ET is a modern Y product - I.e. designed with Generation EasyJet in mind.
I am personally much more inclined to fly CE and I suspect full and large CE cabins reflect the fact that plenty of others also appreciate its value.
I am sorry but I think the idea that before BoB the crew spent hours attending to Y pax every need is just nostalgia for something that really didn't exist.