You're not under the impression that most big budget movies nowadays are just attempts at milking the same character or universe to the maximum possible extent?

'The Thing' wasn't greenlit because it used existing IP with a guaranteed audience. It's just a short story that recieved two very different adaptations 30 years apart.

I am, but at the same time I'm reminded it's always been like this.

But isn't it an entirely separate conversation? Of course CGI hasn't "ruined the movies", that part of the title is hyperbole. But the actual conversation about practical SFX vs CGI doesn't have much to do with originality, I think.