General Discussion

I think films are not as good as they used to be, and the reason might have a lot to do with the other reasons you mention. It is easier for a Hollywood distributor to release a mediocre movie on 10,000 screens after a huge promotion, than to promote and make a great film last in 500 screens nationwide. Plus, the longer a film plays in a theatre, the less money the distributor makes. So, who cares about the actual quality of the film, when the theatre chain makes more money with popcorn, and when on the first weekend of release, the distributor makes 90% of the intake!
Small film production companies come up with very good films every now and then, which play at Film Festivals, sometimes don't get distributed (so don't even stream...) and might play at very tiny independent theatres if we're lucky.