The widom of the internet forums seem to espouse that because missiles are so deadly and self-guiding pilots have it much easier than the gunfighters of old. That could not be farther from the truth.
Much easier? I don't think that 'widom':icon_mi_1 was ever implied.
Warfare is never "easy", be it with rock and sling, broadsword, cannon or the latest high-tech weapons…it's never even remotely, "easy." But it can definitely be different, depending upon many factors.
The earlier point was made that, for those who have had the experience, a guns kill was more satisfying for them than a missile kill, because it relied a little less on technology and a little more on their basic flying skills – (even with lead-computing gun sights). Also, because the guns envelope was so small, flying to it was perhaps more difficult and thus more satisfying. (Same with Air-to-Ground: A Zero CEP with an old iron bombsight is much more difficult and thus more personally gratifying than the same CEP with a computerized ballistic drop, which is in turn more satisfying than an LGB or smart-weapon drop….Note, not better or desired, just more personally satisfying because it depends more upon "personal" skill. Most will enjoy the added challenge if it's available, and warranted - just like hands-on landings vs. auto-land.)
Also, we have so much more information to process in much less time than they ever did. Some will say our radars and the like make it easy for us now days. That again is a misconception. We almost have sensory overload these days, sensors can lie, and they can distract you. Running the radar properly can be a lot tougher than many people think. It's not like an X-box game.
"Sensory overload" is an entirely different subject than weapons employment. And I'm not sure who the "they" were, to whom you refer. Earlier, and less advanced radars and sensors produced similar problems for the operator. Further, Fallon and Red Flag are an excellent exercises, but they still can't quite duplicate the real thing, or provide quite the same, "sensory overload," irrespective of technology.
Back in the day of 30 plane Alpha Strikes, it was not uncommon to have - and overwhelmingly, all at once – smoke trails above you from friendly Shrikes; aimed and barrage fire AAA tracers zinging through the formation, detonating above/below/around you; 30 unstable and jinking aircraft that you tried hard not to mid-air with; "Deep Sea" on Guard constantly yelling in your headsets loudly, "SAM, SAM, vicinity of ___"; Red Crown or the E-2 sometimes calling multiple "Bandits" in various sectors; chaff and bright flares being punched out by various aircraft just ahead, and whizzing right by you (along with the enemy tracers); "trying to tune and re-tune temperamental missiles; a confusing array of switchology to set up just right for bombs and missiles; sudden 30-plane formation discipline disintegration, as a couple of SAM's go right through the formation; 30 plane's struggling to rejoin; trying to get set up for the strike and finding it weathered in; having to go to your alternate target; along with more loud SAM calls on Guard, and Bandit Calls, now you start hearing the "Beeper on Guard" as one of your 30 has just been shot down; who was it?; looking at your RHAW indications and seeing AAA from all quadrants, and SAM's from two quadrants; having to listen to the multiple and repeated – and extremely loud - cockpit aural warnings of SAM launches and flashing red lights; start hearing SAR efforts on Guard; listening to unnecessary chatter on the Strike Frequency, listening to flights aborting for various mechanical reasons, listening to someone who lost the strike group, and all this before even reaching the target, taking a vector, or firing one missile.
There were occasions where there were so many flashing and solid enemy strobes from all directions, and constant and repeated, loud aural warning tones and warbles of many multiple SAM launches or even SAM guidance, we just turned off the RHAW gear so we didn't have to listen to those loud and many threats, which only added to the cacophony. Not smart maybe, but a definite example and honest result of what you term, "sensory overload."
And the threshold for sensory overload is very much lowered on the 10th month of a cruise, after you stood an alert-5 in the middle of the night, have a touch of the flu, spent part of the night planning, and did a similar mission the day before.
No generation of warriors has a monopoly on sensory overload - neither today's, tomorrow's, nor yesterday's. While I have indeed experienced sensory overload in the "real world", I suspect it may have been even greater for the WWII guys, even if their technological tools were far less. Until you have been shot at in anger, you haven't experienced real sensory overload either.
... "transformational effect" 
