I quit wearing 501s in the 80s because they were too tight around the thighs if I wanted a good waist fit. To get a comfortable fit in the legs I had to deal with a sagging butt.
Those pants were clearly made for guys with really skinny legs.
The article mentions they’ve got a cut now called 501 ‘93 Straight which is like a 501 tweaked with a roomier leg. Might be worth checking out.
One thing about the 501 is Levis never went to “vanity sizing” in the waist. A 32 in a 501 is a true 32 by golly. They don’t add in an extra inch or two of room like much of the industry does.