>>723880621
No, the nether fortress distribution never changed. They exist at the pattern of pic related around the nether, with the exact same distances pictured, and this has been the case for decades.
>what if my last dozen nether spawns were in cramped caves that i couldn't escape even with hours of digging
You can always get out of the hole. Check the height.
>if it's easy and quick you should have no problem detailing it in text
Already told you what to do.