I've been reading guys like Cicero, Saint Basil, Origen, etc. lately and it strikes me that they are vastly more compelling and accessible than modern philosophy, analytic or continental, and also scholasticism.

Do you think the decline of oration as a skill drilled in all educated men in some ways hurt writing. I get that not all topics are suited to this sort of discourse, but these guys cover very complex topics in this way and it makes it far more appealing. Whereas today, in trying to ape the sciences, a lot of philosophy and humanities stuff seems intentionally abstruse.

Origen's On Prayer is a great example. It pulls you in with a very familiar and conversational tone, while making tight arguments, but at times flies into high oratorical style when it needs to, and is great for that.