I think the main problem is thst application to most forms is not taught. Most masters don't know the real applications and they train the form wrong. They dont break down and drill each move and its application.

For instance you can look at old shaolin videos of say Da Tong Bi quan and its will be very hard to detect the applications. The younger generations especially the wushu practisioners are so divorced from reality and application that they lose all usefulness in the form. The old videos of guys from the 50 or earlier the routines look much different and more complete. Their movements hint at the application. Which they do know and trained individually and actively with others. The moves are simple and are actual combative techniques as taught effectively to the song army (in the case of Da Tong Bi) lots of simple effective instinctive techniques you'll find in basic boxing, grappling and blade arts.