Sorry but this “people aren’t the same because headphones” (or podcasts or <insert here>) is just too convenient a narrative especially when your pull quotes are from random college newspapers and small scale studies.

Having some music or a podcast to listen to on your commute is the new “I have a giant newspaper in front of my face”.

If you want to have a random conversation you totally can! But like all things in life - the other person may not want to have that conversation at that time.