I think continuity is more a result of streaming services being more prominent. That seems to be a media-wide trend. Even kids shows are getting more of it. When you didn't have to rely on the audience running in at a specific time every week to not be lost, you have more flexibility to not resort to the status quo at the end of each episode.

I think part of this too is with Matt-Trey having kids they want to write more for adult characters as they get older