Lives are the hearts in the game. I have only EVER had 5, when I have full lives. I am amazed there are players out there who get 8. I have played for 10 years with 5 lives, when full. On multiple devices and multiple logins, very strange.
Although I’m not playing because of the unplayable portrait view, I still check to see what’s going on in the game. 8 lives to start the game!!!! How!? King really has to make everything equal for all players!
That might explain why your extra three moves are now gone. The people in charge of Candy Crush are not the same as they were then and I guess they no longer honour that deal you made. Maybe it's , well, expired now?