Is the Express Entry pool actually getting more competitive or does it just feel that way?

It's not just a feeling — the pool has been sitting around 230,000 candidates with the biggest cluster (roughly a third of the pool) bunched in the 451-500 CRS band, which is exactly why cutoffs feel sticky in that range. Combine that with IRCC leaning on category draws over big general draws, and yes, it's a genuinely more competitive environment than a couple of years ago for anyone without a nomination or category match. Track it yourself on /tools/draw-tracker rather than going by vibes.