What has changed recently? I think the only thing that has changed is that VCs realize there is a sellable narrative and that they can pump zcash. You have been around long enough to see that so I can only guess that you have your own bags to unload.

I'm not a Monero user but it is clear as day that Monero has an organic user base and zcash has no user base, only pumpers and dumpers. Where can you even spend zcash since it is so useful for... Something?