"Remember when only the priest could distribute communion"
Yes, I do and when I attend the TLM this is still the case. Remarkable that one priest can serve 200 in about the same time as it takes a bevy of EMHC's to do the same thing.
It was not and still is not to be the "usual" way communion is served.
Again from Redemptionis Sacramentum
"[158.] Indeed, the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion may administer Communion only when the Priest and Deacon are lacking, when the Priest is prevented by weakness or advanced age or some other genuine reason, or when the number of faithful coming to Communion is so great that the very celebration of Mass would be unduly prolonged.259 This, however, is to be understood in such a way that a brief prolongation, considering the circumstances and culture of the place, is not at all a sufficient reason."
The problem is that what you or I may consider "so great" and what the Pastor of any particular parish believes is "so great" may differ greatly.
Incidentally - can anyone tell me how to set off the quoted information in italics as I see some on this forum do or how to bold or underscore, etc?