Even the cheapest gloves nowadays are better and more protective than top of the range stuff from a decade ago. The gloves I wear, which are basic GM gloves from 2010 that are getting slightly ragged but are still perfectly functional, are better than anything test batsmen wore in the 90s.
If you play cricket long enough you'll eventually get a few injuries. I've had broken ribs, permanent nerve damage in my thigh, broken finger, broken nose, I got a bruised ankle whilst playing in Barbados and couldn't walk for a week. Its just part of the game. I got hit on the head once by a bouncer and hooked the next 4 balls for 6.
Sorry , but that's just a very untrue statement re cheapest gloves today are better than the best gloves from a decade ago ! Case in point , cheapest gloves today often /mostly don't have carbon/plastic reinforced protection on any finger , let alone all fingers , and the leather quality in dodgy cow leather. You're statement is even more incorrect when i can remember buying g.n (ultimate 750?) gloves ....their first triple split finger ,top of the range ,gloves , when i was in year 10....so that was 1994. They were awesome quality , sheeps leather , plastic reinforced beauties. They were miles better than a lot of mid range gloves today for both comfort and protection.
Perhaps the fact you only buy gloves once a decade leaves you a bit too out of the loop to make such comparisons ?