How could the lives of the average citizen have gone any more desperate than under the Taliban?

No personal freedoms, no religious freedoms, a government that was recognized by only two other countries - Pakistan and one of the Gulf states. Not even the UN recognized the Taliban.

And let's not forget that large portions of the population were/are unable to feed themselves, dependent instead on NGO's to bring in food.

Now with a comparably stable government, and one that's recognized by the international community, Afghanistan has a chance.