I’d suggest removing the wiper assembly and giving it a clean up.
It’s possible the motor isn’t what it used to be and the linkages might have a bit of wear or sockets might have dried out. A bit of play in things and the screeching might be happening easier than it once did of the motor and mechanisms have some friction to push through. In other words, friction elsewhere other than the blades and windscreen.
Not sure if you can get new motors anymore?
You can pry the arms off and clean everything out. Maybe a paint to get some extra mileage out of it all. I use bearing grease into the sockets.
Put back together and try that. (Get a photo of how it was all pisitioned before hand.
It’s just that fragile plastic cover over the wiper scuttle though
I heard there are fibreglass ones around, but they have a poor fit?
Don’t soak the blades in armoural. It degrades the blade material (and dash , trim plastics, seals etc) long term. Use aerospace 303 though, which does not degrade plastics and rubber, but instead rejuvenates them and gets more life from them. Keeps them soft.
Careful with the steel wool method, but it can be a good first step if done carefully. I’ve seen it not work out well a few times.
Maguiars glass polish after that.
Then a hybrid ceramic spray (only because of cost) I use Turtle Wax and Maguiars Hybrid Ceramic sealants.
Then Rainex across the windscreen, which if applied correctly and wiped up well with microfibres won’t cause vision problems at night. If a residue is left, it will.
Try the flexible blade style wiper blades found on newer cars as well.