I don't know much about it so let me ask: is this primarily a software or hardware "issue"? I feel like it wasn't really an issue before the Pro's, and I've been using AirPods since 2016. I may just be misremembering things though.

I totally get it, too. When I'm on call with someone and they do kitchen stuff or whatever, I quite literally feel an erratic rage building up and just want to hang up immediately. It sounds so infuriatingly loud, even though the other side may have only put down a glass on the counter or something. It's really bad imo. If this somehow gets fixed, I'll buy a pair at an instant.