I have a love/hate relationship with Google.
It's been incredibly hard to get anywhere with BlokeToys in Google, and after over a year I am finally seeing traffic increasing.

Finding solutions has been impossible because they keep their practices so secret. Even working by their rules gives no guarantees.

I'm also holding a grudge about their suggestions for "net neutrality". Even if we trust their motivations, I am always reluctant to support an industry leader like them from interfering in what is effectively global internet policy.

However... I have to admit that, as a searcher, Google offers me better results and options than any competitor. So while I might have moral opinions about them, and be reluctant, they are the best at what they do.

And from what you've posted about their improvements, my job has just been made easier.
I write content based on the media of a post. While I change terms to meet the correct demographic I don't write with the intention of somehow tricking Google.

I have always insisted that content needs to be natural and flowing. It has to be written for the Human reader first, and it seems Google is working to support this ideal.

Ultimately, on-page SEO has been replaced with knowledge of the demographic. You have to know what your audience is searching for rather than simply writing a page packed with links, bold text, misleading keywords and so on.