>you've always been able to force a match by wrapping a word in quotes
This no longer works very well. A while ago I was searching for the linux syscall which is identified in the manpages as 'splice(2)'
If I didn't include quote marks, I basically got pages of junk.
If I did include quote marks I basically got a page of junk and then a single relevant link halfway down the second page followed by another page and a half of junk.
I know to use 'verbatim' now but still very much a downgrade in terms of user experience.
(I don't think it's a 100% "must have this keyword" in the boolean sense, but it is an extremely strong suggestion to the engine.)
Maybe we have finally reached the point where people don't know boolean operators anymore though