Can't there be a middle ground? I have a real hard time with the flat low-contrast design that's everywhere.

The low contrast material design makes it incredibly difficult to navigate, you constantly have to guess what is a button and what is not.

I think something like Windows 95 is peak interface design. Sounds facetious but think about it: Controls are clearly distinguished from content with not only colors but bevels. Buttons often have both icons and text so you don't have to guess what the button does. Overall it leverages real world spatial metaphors extremely effectively to produce an interface that is very intuitive. You never have to ask yourself whether a button is a dialogue or an input field because they look visually distinct.