OK, you say he isn't the boss. Nearly every other source says he is. I'll go with the CW on this one. As always, feel free to name your sources.

Regarding "smarter," there has been a general atrophy not only in the Outfit's scams since the glory days, but also sophistication.

Yes, I do think the "active" guys left are basically just remnants of something that at one time was impressive.

Go to the Family Secrets FBI file and read all of Marcello's transcripts. Look at the available evidence--the receipts, the locations of the old taverns that he had his machines in (most are gone now). It paints a picture of a few broken down old guys running around picking up a few hundred dollars there and a few hundred dollars here.