You definitely have a point about progress not being a straight line. I would also like to think we are pretty progressive here in Germany but the recent few years have made me question that. Especially because I don’t really agree with the german right wingers being a direct result of the refugees we took in around 2015. A lot of them are very anti establishment generally, almost on a conspiracy theory level. But nontheless, you are right that no curve can forever go up, even if the trend is headed that way.
I don’t really think the first 3 points are markers of real progress, but I have to agree they are nice aspects of day to day life.
The last part is definitely interesting. I know we have something somewhat similar here in germany, but as always, it is hidden behind a huge wall of bureaucracy. Is that similar in Sweden or us bureaucracy more lenient/easy?