As always, you picked a very interesting topic to write on, Sean. :) I find your writings very informative as well as insightful.

I think that somehow people earlier were better looking than people today. The reason I think is that more attractive people had a higher chance of getting a mate, or perhaps multiple partners. Today, even though one may marry more than once, the criterion to select a partner isn't only attractiveness or wealth but other factors like emotional availability and compatibility. Hence, even the mediocre or "ugly" looking people can get partners if they are good spouse material. Hence, the babies they produce might be just as mediocre or "ugly" looking.

Moreover, I think that since our soil and water has become more polluted, the quality of food we consume is worse than even a decade ago. This might also be affecting the "beauty" of a person based on their looks.