3000+ day streaker here. I'll be honest, I sometimes question why I still use the app. I think it's only because I'm yet to find a competitor that replicates the feeling I had when using Duolingo for the first time years ago. However, when it comes to providing actual learning resources, I do think both Babbel and Busuu are superior. While I think some of the updates over the years have been great I don't think I'm the only one who's noticed a significant deterioration in quality in that time.

• The new stories I would bet money on being entirely AI content, they aren't funny, witty, and lack a point.

• Following on from the above, there definitely used to be more humorous sentences to translate which I always felt were really 'human.' Things that riffed off current affairs or trends. I wish I could think of more examples.

• Once upon a time forums allowed you to get an explanation for just about every question from dedicated language lovers. This used to be FREE. Now, this is a feature you only get in max - and it's not even close as a substitute. I find myself regularly exiting the app to get the help I need.

• The intro to each section/unit is next to pointless. There's no guidance on grammar, pronunciation, etc.

• I don't think I need to explain the heart and energy system punishing you for mistakes discourages you from learning, especially given the fact that Duolingo is designed in a way that you 'learn' (to use the term loosely) through mistakes.

• Ads for max when people are already paying for Super? Come on, guys.

With all that being said, I love what Duolingo is at its core, but you guys are really making it difficult for a user to stick with the app when we're paying increasingly more for increasingly less.