Has anyone else played an iron match after being above iron for a while and noticed that iron matches can be significantly more difficult than some ranks above because of lack of communication and call outs, teamwork, ability use, afks/leavers, and 'smurfs'?

My mind was blown when my buddy insisted iron was harder than I thought, we usually play unranked with my mostly plat and diamond friends and have fun. I usually second or top frag for my team, so I said 'bet' thinking I would just be able to smoke his iron lobby with his account... I was wrong.. I found iron much harder on average than the silver and up lobbies I was used to.