We're now 3-4 years into this console generation. Yet, "next-gen game", "next-gen console", "next-gen graphics" and things like that are still common (and nonsense) terms.

Do you recall whether this was the case in the past, 3 or 4 years into the console generations? Otherwise we have to figure out why this is the case.

Before this gen I have never heard the term "next-gen"

I've always heard "next gen" used when talking about the next generation of consoles.

Yeah, I don't remember hearing "next-gen" before, at all. Maybe we're all wrong for complaining--maybe this current generation can just be the "Next-Gen Generation," like art had "modern" and "post-modern," etc.

For me I basically heard "the newest {brand name} console" or something to that effect

It absolutely annoys me tbh. I'm pretty sure it has to do with Wii being less powerful and therefore the next-gen term was kept for comparisons sake.