"Why has my preference in classes changed?"
Fuck where to beginn now...
The correct short answer was already given: You're a man now.
So sadly i have to try to give you the long answer with few words: Watch Jordan Peterson on youtube for the answer. He is for me a nice confirmation bias, but not on pair with my knowledge ( yes i'm that arrogant).
But let me throw bits and crumbs on your journey to the answer:
The hero's journey is for a reason the strongest trope in literature, because it is about the boy becoming the man archetype through suffering, training and tests.
The boy who wants to join the man hunters party hones his skills, gethers a new perspective and becomes through this a man - a leader - a thinker and understands now the world around him differntly then before. Even in the bible this stated with in a very nice statement in 1 Corinthians 13:11
This is the Quest on which end is the test to become a man, but remember the way is goal for each of us.
In Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth there was a saying: There is nothing that a man with a sword cannot achieve. (Paraphrasing)
In the literature there are several types of characters and as a magican you wanted to be a paragon character (Merlin, Gandalf and recently Dumbeldore or whatever he is called ) and to have the might to change the world with magic words and gestures without the tiresome work. As you grew older you faced the realtiy that behind everything is a lot of work and you wittnessed the reality that you are just a cog in the machine that is your company, society and state and you need to inverst time and do tiresome work to have a status and a place and that you need to take responsibilties.
And this has changed your perception on the classes that you prefer, because you cannot be Merlin or Gandalf that disobey the laws of the natural world, but you can be a legendary Warrior though the power of will and hard work. Not the class reflects upon you, but you reflect upon the class.
Perhaps you are ready for the "Sword and Sorcery" genre? I recommend to you the Robert E. Howerd Conan stories and the Conan Comix "Omnibus - Birth of the Legend" from Dark Horse.
"Conan the Barbarian" film had a prodcution title "Steel" which aludes to Conan becoming like steel, smelted, cast and forged by the oven, castform and hammers of fate. The man with the sword armed with his body forged by his life and his will fights the evil undead (story depended) sorceror Thulsa Doom, represents the archetype of a Man fighting the forces of fate that threaten him and his family.
The problem is also in magic in this RPGs, because DnD has killed the mystic aspect of magic and made it profane. Take a look at the films from the early 80s like Dragonslayer and Excalibur how magic is presented there. There it has its own will (Zauberlehring) and something that is beyond the realm of mortals and belongs to the world of gods and dreams: (Excalibur 80s)
Arthur: Merlin where have you been.
Merlin: Your love brought me back. Back to where you are now. In the land of dreams.
Arthur: Are you just a dream Melin?
Merlin: A dream to some. A NIGHTMARE TO OTHERS!!!
Take your time to trying to understand this and watch Persons videos, they are ok.