Do you also notice this in C-41 film scans shared online?

[loccdor]

I think what you're describing is the effect of grain-reduction algorithms in software. They are common in lab scanning. They can really remove a lot of the detail from an image.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I stopped shooting and scanning negatives and switched to chromes because of the difficulty of reversing the film and getting the colors right during scanning and editing. Another advantage of chromes is that you can see immediately if you got the shot exposed right, just by looking at it. I often bracket when shooting medium-format 120 roll film. So it's easy to select the right one without even bothering to scan. I also like the color palettes of Velvia 50 chromes. Of course, chromes have their own issues like fewer stops, more contrast, and blowing the sky.