I definitely wouldnt say that....if anything its easier for you to complete the collections because players are dirt *** cheap. Like Tony Parker I see everyday for less than 2k and Duncan is less than 5k everyday. Those 2 players alone can get you through domination. The issue you have is completing the collections doesnt net you 25k anymore...but completing them isnt really that hard now.
Also, getting Diamond Durant is much easier because the most expensive stars are Lebron and KD. Everyone else is less than 10k now.
Now when you talk Historic....the good thing is when you do get the MT to buy your players, the expensive ones you can sell back. So you could do a Bucks Collection, sell the expensive guys back and do the Knicks (Frazier) collection.
Really, I have been playing since the game came out and I have only completed a few historic collections. I took for granted making MT wouldnt get this hard. Now some of those collections are not even worth it. The only ones are MJ, Moses, Drexler, Hakeem, Karl, etc....also when you finish a collection, check on the board to see if you can trade with someone for some players you both need.