Maybe that's your opinion.
iPhone 6 to 6s: Added 3D Touch
iPhone 7: Added 2nd lens in Plus
iPhone 8: Added wireless charging
...in addition to the spec bumps and other improvements. Those are major features in my book, maybe you set your bar higher.
iPhone 6 to 6s: Added 3D Touch <----- Don't use. Irritating as hell a lot, particularly when trying to move apps.
iPhone 7: Added 2nd lens in Plus <----- I imagine that's great for screen caps, menu boards and product on store shelves, all of which is really what I use my camera for.
iPhone 8: Added wireless charging<----- I sit at a computer all day with a powered hub that has two lightning cables and a 30 pin cable (for my 4GS) plugged into it. There are multiple lightning cables at my desk at home (in the living room) and one by my bedside. I imagine wireless charging is great, but I don't need it.
I think Apple needs to set it's bar higher. Animojis are not features and meeting the bar that everyone else has been at for a while even though you do it better does not make a feature.
And yeah, I know you didn't bring up Animojis but it's a pretty good idea of where Apple is at when it considers that and apps inside iMessage to be 'features'.
Of course you are right. All of this is my opinion, but honestly I haven't seen anything since iOS 6 that I consider to be a 'feature' I must have.