Does modern chess even make sense any more ?!

Some older players have lamented to me that it is very difficult to learn anything from modern games at the highest level. Instead of players playing with a particular style, or specialising in specific positions, they simply try and calculate as deeply as possible to achieve a winning position. While this may be the road the chess now travels down, it is difficult for us lesser light to emulate.
Case in point, Vachier-Lagrave v Ding from round 2 of the 2013 Alekhine Memorial.


Vachier-Lagrave,Maxime (2722) - Ding,Liren (2707)
2013 Alekhine Memorial Paris, 22.04.2013