Problem is, digital cameras took the skill out of it. Anyone can shoot a thousand photos and come up with a few good ones and delete the rest. Its when you can make Polaroid one steps look good that makes you a good photographer
Bullshit on the first part. Maybe for a complete amateur. Digital cameras did not change the physical properties of light, the use of that light, perspective, etc. what digital did was make every swinging dick with a cell phone think they can take great photos when in reality they do not even come close to stacking up to a professionals images.
As as far as the second part about the Polaroids, I agree and that's what I alluded to as well. It's all about capturing light.
The gap between image quality of film and digital sensors is very slight with the high end modern cameras. ( 36mm frame size). I own one camera body that the sensor pushes some of my L series Canon lenses to their limits. i.e., mucho resolution.
When the end result of the shot stopped being developed in the darkroom and stated emerging from software, that was the game changer. The mask and burn guys gave up developing and the kids started manipulating.