Actually, if you eliminate the Electoral College, landslide elections would probably become a thing of the past. Using the example you cited, in 1984, Reagan's EC count was 525 to Mondale's 13 and he won 49 states to Mondale's one. A true landslide.

But if that election was based on popular vote, it would have appeared closer. Reagan received 58.8% of the popular vote compared to Mondale's 40.6%. Mondale still would have lost decisively, but it wouldn't appear to be quite as big a butt-whoopin'.

As for Hillary Clinton, I fully agree she was a weak candidate, and the folly of the Democrats was that they underestimated just how weak. The fact that a monstrosity like Donald Trump was able to beat her is all the proof you need.