I agree that the storylines are more twee and neatly wrapped up these days, but I think some of that is inevitable to a degree because of rising living standards, so there is less of the grinding poverty, the NHS and welfare state are well established by now, fewer people around of childbearing age who would have experienced things like the workhouse first hand (as it’s getting on for 40 years since they were abolished by this time). So the environmental factors that led to many of the hard-hitting storylines are diminishing.
It’s definitely a little bubble of progressive attitudes. I can understand why they don’t want to offend modern sensibilities - I doubt anyone wants to watch Lucille encountering racism or Reggie being teased every week - but it does make it very unrealistic/anachronistic.