I have a hard time remembering because I was so young and it was once a year we would pass thru on our way to vacation in Maine. But, subtract 1 Financial, the new State St. tower, and beyond that International Place, and you have a much different skyline in the 80's. And, even though no one really likes the Hartford ready tower that is 1 Financial, I would say that all those changes have done a lot as far as density and yes definitely design. True about the height.
Think of those 3 or 4 towers mentioned above and contrast them to the previous batch of highrises like One Boston, One Federal, and 100 Federal and it is light years ahead.
Maybe I'm reading that wrong and you're saying it hasn't changed since the 80's towers were built, but I remember most of the 80's as not having them or them being in construction. Of course the new state street wasn't built yet, and might be the only major addition in that shot since the 80's....