I'd say the shift probably started during the Bush/Obama years. It accelerated with the 'tiny home' craze, which seems to have now been replaced with 'micro-homes'. The ones built around here are on lots so small that they would be townhomes if it wasn't for the narrow gap between outer walls.The decline in interest in silverware, lead crystal and bone china predates Bidenomics and the recent spike in inflation. It roughly coincided with the rise of business casual and informalizing of the work and public environments.
Even before building our current home, we found more than few production and even semi/custom builders don't offer a dining room on their floor plans anymore.
The fact that the silverware isn't silver doesn't matter to her. My wife didn't want to keep it anyway and this just makes the choices on how to dispose of it simpler.