That is pretty good going at this stage for 2027 already. I think we have 7 or 8 without checking.
I rarely do calls, well I never offer them unless the couple asks, think I have probably done 3 or 4 this year. As you say most couples especially younger couples prefer just to do everything by email and having to speak to someone absolutely horrifies them.

My own kids are the same. We have had a quiet month for bookings but last month we took loads.
Content creators are a pain for sure, just because most are so inexperienced and do so many stupid things on the day. There has been quite a bit of fight back in the states against them with a lot of photographers putting no content creators in their contract. Although there is all sorts of weird stuff going on there at the moment. A few weeks ago I seen somewhere that some venues are making all photographers sign a contract saying that the venue owns copyright and must be supplied images before even the couple or they won't let you shoot there. Apparently there is also some venues in the states that won't let you shoot there unless you provide your card information which they then use to bill you at an hourly rate if guests are late arriving for dinner due to the shoot taking too long or running behind etc. Absolute madness.
I would definitely prefer no content creators being there as they get in the way a lot more than videographers. I have been telling couples that we produce content ourselves and will just hand it over to them at no extra fee as it saves us having to deal with them. We just grab some stuff on our phones when possible and a pocket 3 and my eldest puts it together for them. Although we may look at offering that as an add on later on down the line. The video guys are definitely in big trouble because of them, especially those in the budget to mid range price range.
Elopements are great for us don't know were your based or if they are an option for you, but elopements are very popular here, probably shot about 15 or so this year ourselves. We get a lot of couples from the states and Canada, even had Saudi and Hong Kong this year as well. 4 hour elopement photography costs the same as an all day wedding so a lot less work for the money. Have seen some guys even doing 2 a day regularly.
I have been shooting weddings with my wife since 2014 and shot for another year or so with another photographer before that, so have seen a lot of changes over the time, as you said if you don't evolve you get left behind. You might want to try Lemon8 if you haven't already, it's basically TikToks answer to instagram. We only set up an account the other day and have already had a couple of enquiries direct from there before we even had any followers. Younger people in particular seemed to have moved away from hanging out on instagram and its fast becoming the place were the old people hang out as my kids would say.