I disagree. Outside of the big teams that play from the back, there are a lot of other teams that still play like the way you described. Maybe they don't boot it long 100% of the time like West Brom does, but they play the same way.
You speak as if playing in the PL is the toughest test available for a goalkeeper. Like they need to be special to be able to play in the PL. One should look at how Joe Hart is doing to see the PL quality compared to others.
Punching is not more popular with European goalkeepers. More and more keepers nowadays punch instead of catch the ball, especially younger ones. Until January, 'Continental' goalkeepers like De Gea only punched the ball twice, and Lloris only punched it 4 times. While Pickford had did it 12 times.
Your first paragraph doesn't really make sense, mate. I know lots of teams in England play that way, that was my whole point.
Regarding punching, I think a lot of it depends on the goalkeeping coach. Hart very rarely used to punch until Pellegrini brought in that goalkeeping coach, he made Hart a much worse keeper in my view.
De Gea punched a lot more in his early United career than he does now, he's adapted his game. And De Gea is a good example of what I'm talking about with physicality.
When he arrived in the league he was wiry and lightweight. That had never been a problem for him in Spain, but he was getting bullied in the box in the PL. Neville did a big piece on it at the time, absolutely slaughtered him.
DeGea has developed physically over the last few years, become much stronger and he's a much better keeper for it. Again, Neville has analysed his improved performance since he improved physically.
The idea of PL exceptionalism is completely flawed, as shown with European performances. But the PL is different. It would be ridiculous to think otherwise. It is more physical than other top European leagues. Physicality, pace and aggression does play a bigger part in England than it dies in Spain, Italy or Germany. It would be naive to think otherwise.
I don't think it's a good think by the way, but it is what it is.