Its got massively easier . 1974 a three team group of England, Poland, Wales only one qualifies . No play off . Poland came 3rd in the main tournament.
1978 Italy , England , Luxembourg, Finland yes only one qualifies . England failed on goal difference!
Italy had to blow up massively not to qualify not once but twice this time.
The only difference in 2022 is the second chance (and the massive increase in additional fixtures against minnows).
You still had to win your group this time in UEFA qualifying to make it automatically, just like 1974.
So in 1974 we had to finish above Poland (& Wales) to qualify, and we failed.
In 2022, we had to finish above Poland (& Hungary & Albania plus a couple of city states) to qualify and we did.
In 1974, Italy had to finish above Switzerland (and what was, in those days, a terrible Turkey team) to qualify, and did.
In 2022, they had to finish above Switzerland (and Bulgaria, and Northern Ireland) and messed it up.
As I said, the only difference was the playoff - in 2022, you also get a second chance if you can win two more games against other 2nd placed teams.
But whilst Italy undoubtedly blew up spectacularly by losing to North Macedonia......they would still have had to then win in Portugal to make it.
World Cup qualification is still not - at least in Europe - a piece of cake.......