Brake Effort OK? Need Advice

Try this:
start engine and let it run for a minute or two (keep your foot off the brake until the end)
shut off engine
wait about 15 minutes
now step on the brake pedal, if you hear a "whoosh" sound and the brake pedal effort feels normal the the booster is fine. If the pedal is hard as a rock then the booster is bad or the check valve isn't holding.

Yes newer cars have a very light feeling brake pedal compared to an old car, so it might just be that your not used to how the brakes should feel.