Yup, this is the point, and of course there is variability depending on what trees there are, or that one has in their area. If you have alot of, or predominantly oaks where you live, it’s gonna be dull for the most part.
If you have more maples and birches…then it will be so much more colorful. It doesn’t mean the foliage is a dull year(of course it can be some years), just means you don’t have the colorful trees in that area.