I paid close to $2k for a computer with 16GB of memory and can only have the same amount of tabs open as I did in 2009 with 4GB of RAM. My computer still slows

I paid close to $2k for a computer with 16GB of memory and can only have the same amount of tabs open as I did in 2009 with 4GB of RAM. My computer still slows to a crawl when on certain pages. These are the literal costs (for me) to be able to use the web nowadays for minimal usability and functionality 'increases'. For reference, the multiprotocol instant messenger client Meebo was a successful competitor to Trillian in 2005. It was a web application that used less memory and was more responsive than a desktop application. I used it on a computer with 512mb of memory just fine. Also, browsing the web on my phone is unnecessarily difficult and battery consuming.