Not really. Most bodybuilder's diets (very high calories during bulking phase) aren't really different from what they ate in the Arnold days. In fact, the top bodybuilders probably eat cleaner than the Arnold era bodybuilders did. In terms of total calories it's not that much more than Michael Phelps eats, he just does an incredible amount of cardio every day when he's training.
I think its the incredible megadoses of roids and especially human growth hormone (HGH). We've seen the long term effects of HGH - it's generally referred to as the "Palumbo effect". The internal organs grow to very larges sizes and pushes out the belly. That's why you see so many of today's bodybuilders with extended (but ripped) guts. Very few have the tiny waist and "vacuum" gut that predominated in the golden era. I much prefer the aesthetic physiques of the Arnold era, like Frank Zane had. Today's bodybuilder seem to go for the super-massive "Hulk" type physique. The top 10 at the Mr. Olympia will mostly top the scales at 270 to 340 lbs. At his prime Arnold weighted around 230 to 240 at most, and he was one of the largest at that time.
Exactly, you look at Arnold at the height of his acting career and now you’d have no idea that he was ever a bodybuilder.
I disagree. I body build and I'm a Pharmacologist/Toxicologist and I know the risks. The high calorie diet can foment issues but it's the other supplements. Not everyone has the natural inclination to get to the upper tier of muscled physique, getting up there requires a lot of "support". The stuff taken to get around the ban on illegal stuff comes with a lot baggage.
I do agree with your assessment of physiques - I too prefer the "old school look".
Apollonian vs Herculean physique.