I agree with your views and have noticed the same. That said, imagery has only become 'a huge part of storytelling,' in our times because like us, our stories have moved from the physical to the digital worlds dominated by visual stimuli. Prior to that, outside of picture books, travel guides, cook books and similar - for the most part stories lived in books … physical ‘objects’ one can smell, touch, leaf through, lend, borrow, exchange, and yes even throw at someone or something! Cover illustrations were only pictures required. And while those kinds of books are still made, more and more stories and storytellers are migrating online. Hence the hypoproduction of digital publications and yes - search for photos to match.