Not really, Naruto has always been quite low/borderline average and sometimes drops a little below it and ends up being bad. That is the negative side of animes which have continued for many years and whose animation style have never been updated.
Sadly yes you are correct. I first stared off on the animation only but because it was much better back then. Around the time that Akatsuki (in the anime) was being mentioned is where i started reading the manga instead. Every now and then i will watch the animation. Today for example i wont because i am tired off all the fillers that appear in the story and just prolonge the original story that your much better reading the story.
The always look the same. Also, the similar Pain Arc animation and a bit of the War Arc Animation (Edo Tensei Madara Against Alliance: Gaara's Unit with Oonoki support).
TBH yes. If you look at ending 32 you can even see it at their face's that sometimes there isn't even any details in it. Since the war arc sometimes it is just so ugly compared to what it used to be.