They certainly haven't developed any additional armour since the 60s,and chokes and lead shells have improved greatly since then. Seems logical that lead will still take them just as it used to and at a greater distance than we were used to shooting them.
With the 12 gauge I could care less if it is lead or HTL. With the 20 I prefer the HTL but would definitely put a lead shell in there if it meant not going hunting.
The tighter the choke and heavier the lead the closer they seem to come in - Go Figure!