This is exactly right, which is the root of why I said it's understandable that many poorly catechized catholics leave the church for a better worship experience.
It is possible to have elevated liturgy with the Novus Ordo, it's just seldom done. How many catholics can explain what the "propers" of the mass are? I am guessing very few - maybe 0.1%.
IMHO the reason the Extraordinary form (Tridentine Latin Mass) is almost universally well celebrated today is that those who care enough to seek it out (laity) or learn to celebrate it (priests) are likely to want to have an elevated liturgy to begin with.
As a non catholic who does attend mass, the old style doesn’t appeal to me either. I’ve attended Anglican Use masses which I believe are closer to the old mass except in English. They’re lovely but they don’t appeal to me at all. Again its a theology thing. Since I don’t believe in the sacrifice that you are seeing, I go to church to worship God. The traditional style is very elegant but is more like eating other people worship than participating.
Cultural bias, I’m sure, but I don’t feel properly churched without a few good rousing hymns and some improv praying.
And most Catholics do not know Christ in a salvific way..they do not have the most basic understanding of Hermeneutics ... The word of God low in their priority... I do not think God will ask what the "propers" are.. He will ask you why you should be admitted to heaven ..what would you say to that ?