Friction/barrier to entry is the biggest difference. People generally didn't do things like that before due to a combination of it being a colossal waste of tim

Friction/barrier to entry is the biggest difference. People generally didn't do things like that before due to a combination of it being a colossal waste of time and most not having the requisite skills (or will and patience to acquire said skills). When all it takes is @mentioning a bot, that friction is eliminated.