[mildchalupa]

Lessened visibility is due completely to rollover protection regulations. Vehicles around the 2010's+ require stronger A,B,C...pillars etc. Automakers complied with the regulations by making pillers both larger and shorter. Shorter members are stronger as there is less bending moment. If you look at where the windows start on newer vehicles they are munch higher. Thus body lines to match this brings up the hood.

This is astoundingly obvious when you park an unmodified 80's-90's vehicle next to something new.

The question to me is what overall reduces mortality rates, improved roll-over and side impact protection or driver visibility?

Personally I think blind spots everywhere suck and would much prefer better visibility.

[iancmceachern]

You are making incorrect assumptions.

Just because they made a window bigger or a member longer doesn't mean it's weaker. They could have changed the material to something twice as strong, added hidden structures, etc.

The difference is mandated crash testing, and now simulated crash testing. They are required by law to build cars that are safe, and test to make sure they truly are.