The number of options for learning and improving is so great now that I think it's easier to learn. I was teaching myself in the 80s, and the one lesson I had from a teacher was fairly useless (he was convinced the machines were coming, and all bassists were out of a job, so why would I even want to learn?).
I've done a few SBL courses, and watched so much Youtube to pinpoint things I want to focus on. I definitely play better now at 55 than I did at 18 (which was probably my first peak).