What's changed over the years is the speed/ease of use and longevity. Back in the day all I used was Meg's Cleaner/Wax and NuFinish. Both still exist and are still fine, but got surpassed. Roughly 10 years ago Meguiars updated the Cleaner/Wax forumula. It performs the same, just smells better. NuFinish is still the same and will stain things, but if you wipe if off whatever stains immediately you won't have much trouble.
What I recommend now for most people is Armor All's Extreme Shield Wax. When you wash your car use a wash/wax soap during cleaning. Use a wax-as-u-dry when drying and keep a bottle of Meguiars Ultimate Spray Wax around miscellaneous cleaning of bird bombs and door jams. With a solid coat of wax/sealant and constant topping off you won't have to wax your car as often. By the way, don't get to attracted by the sealant word. A sealant is a synthetic wax that crosslinks. Just about any wax that isn't carnauba is a synthetic. Not all will advertise that they crosslink, possibly to avoid a lawsuit, but that many like NuFinish are close enough. Extreme Shield IIRC is a synth/polymer but again is close enough.
Armor All's Extreme Shield Wax averages one year in 4-5 cars I've tested it on. It repels both dirt and water and is a wax-on wax off product. No need to dry and haze. I slather it with my hand and with the other a small MF rag. Once that rag is full of the product that becomes my applicator for the rest of the car. In my small car, I can easily wax it in 15 mins. Only bad thing is that it's not a beauty wax and it doesn't feel smooth. It doesn't add beauty, it protects, but it doesn't make your car look hazy or ugly either and who cares about how smooth it feels. I don't feel up my car. Beauty and smooth finish is all in the prep work (clay/compound/polish) anyway.
Meguiar's NXT 2.0 was my previous wax and I loved it. Too bad the longevity wasn't good, but boy was it easy to use. I needed only 1 oz on my sedan. Only reason why I don't recommend it is Meguiar's own Ultimate Wax is better, highly regarded and is only a few dollars more than NXT 2.0.