Has anyone noticed the competitive skill gap has gotten easier?

For example, I took about a 6 month break. When I got back on the game, me and my duo (who also took a break) went from me (Gold 4) to D2 in a weekend. Yesterday, he hit Master, but it seems that it has gotten so much easier than before when we would grind ranked. Any context? Maybe because so many people have left? I mean, I was pretty good when I left, but I feel as if maybe it was way too easy this time coming back.