In short
Fewer folk clubs for a variety of mainly economic reasons.

Many more other outlets for folk music, many producing a high standard.

There are a few places where phones and cribs are used but they are few and far between and they don't affect the overall standard.

This is my experience mainly in Yorkshire.

Typical hotbeds, York, Sheffield, Ryburn, Teesside, Hull, Whitby. Apologies to those parts I'm not aware of.
Other places where I know there is a strong representation, Hampshire, Sussex, Surrey, Suffolk, Norfolk, East Lancashire, Newcastle, and I'm sure there are many others I'm not aware of.