[2024] Concerned about the dwindling realism.

There is already a thread regarding the removal of Jars.
A21 Should Keep Reusable Empty Jars

Also take a look at...
How do people genuinely feel about the new magazine based system?

There are a number of settings you can change to make the game harder or easier.
You are also free to mod the game quite extensively since the devs have openly supported that since Day 1.