The market is dynamically different in all of its collective variables in play at any given moment in time.
Even the mid/late 90's when everyone was basically getting rich...I still wouldn't describe that era or process as being easy.
In hindsight, when you look at all the relatively smoothly rising or falling charts...it may be perceived as easy to trade -- But in real-time...it's a shit storm of trading that's fucking with your psyche.