and then it became basically just a vocalist and synths
it's all the same indistinguishable chord progressions and instrumentations

I mean, people still play piano, and drums, and in an orchestra/marching band context a lot of other instruments have a big impact
but yeah people just don't want to hear much other than lyrics and guitar/synths

Okay what about shoegazeGODs though didn't they start it and they aren't americans so actually its your fault