I was there when it all started with Zumwalt. Some of the toughness left the Navy - but sailors had more fun, I guess.
Zumwalt was solvign a different problem - transitioning from the old battle ship Navy where sailors didn't do much unless they were there to provide manpower to move bullets and powder into battle into a modern technology based Navy where sailors had unique technical skills not possessed by their superiors in the chain of command.
The old Navy died hard - and it needed to go. I am not saying everything that came in after was great.