The more I hear "in the 21st century a rifle should...." the less I think its about what the gun makers are doing and more about the inflated expectations of certain folks today.
Just because SOME rifle and ammo combinations will do MOA doesn't mean all will, or should.
Unless the maker includes a guarantee or statement saying what size group the rifle will shoot, there is nothing defective about a 1,5-2moa deer gun. Could it be better? maybe. Do you want it to be better? sure, we all want the best, right? Does it NEED to be better? Not for most of us.
50-60 years ago, it was fairly easy to improve the accuracy of most guns by handloading. Factory ammo has been improved since then, and today, it takes a lot more work to find a handload that shoots significantly better than some factory ammo.
Likewise, a rifle that shot MOA (or less) was "a pearl of great price" something that was the exception, not the rule and not something given away or sold lightly.
One question never seems to be mentioned, your rifle "only" shoots 1.5-2MOA and of course, its not you shooting, but perhaps there might be a touch of wind downrange that you're not aware of??? Things vary, of course, but a 10mph breeze can turn that 1moa group into 1,5moa for instance.
Does that mean your rifle is somehow "substandard"?? I don't think so.