Getting grants has been getting more and more difficult like you say for the last 20 years (speaking from experience). Part of it imho is that the uncertainty in today's world drives them to convolute their RFPs, etc, to protect themselves. On top of that, some funders say they feel treated as ATMs by grant requestors, and they are right.

Also, it might be worth adding that when the people with money have staff, the staff have their own agenda, which boils down to career mobility. "How will recommending we fund this grant make me look?" drives their behavior and communication.

I can understand people making funding decisions based on networking and reputation when they feel don't have more substantive (trustworthy) information. Of course, that doesn't make it right.