Putting is harder. You can drive poorly (to an extent) and still score. You can’t score well without putting well (they aren’t are going to be tap ins).
Just swinging in the winter is helpful. I don’t find that simulated golf is really golf but having a club in your hand and hitting balls has to help your striking.
In my opinion the USGA doesn’t care if it grows the game. It’s an organization that has the private clubs interests top of mind. It doesn’t generally matter to those folks if they grow the game or not. It will always be accessible for them.
I went to a wedge fitting and the guy taught me how to get out of bunkers inside on a mat. He had me hitting the ceiling. I’m not good enough to explain it, but I get low and stay low. Works.
Golf is hard. My handicap plummeted in July, breaking 80 seemed easy, for a while. Now struggling despite continuing to work to improve. One shot at a time.