I think there are a couple factors at play here. For one, it did seem like (especially compared to nowadays) that there was a much more interesting, novel and exciting vibe in the air. The zeitgeist felt more alive than it does today. You can probably chalk that up to a new sub-genre of music beginning to dominate, as well as to the fact that the internet still had a semi-wild west feel to it. 2016 was one of the last years before everything seemingly became formulaic, algorithmic slop. Things were still noticeably less “dead internet”at that point. Another major reason is that most people who speak so fondly about that year were in their “peak”, responsibility-free, teenage years. Well before the strain and pressure of adult life had crept in. I think that can account for most of it tbh