Photos OUT of Apple - is this even Possible?

Photos File > Export Originals. Choose some local (not iCloud or network) target folder for the output so slow network is out of the equation. Should be very fast. If not, maybe some 3rd party add-on like an unneeded anti-virus app intervenes.

An EtreCheck report would eliminate much guesswork:

Using EtreCheck to Troubleshoot Potential… - Apple Community

Exporting continues to work the same as it ever has:

File -> Export.

Choose what you want to export - Unmodified Originals? You'll see the command. Edited versions? Make your choices of format and quality, metadata etc in the dialogue and then send them to a folder on the desktop.

If your exports from Photos are running slow, you might check for potential sources of delay, such as:

Is your Photos library on an external hard drive that is slow and/or poorly formatted?

Is your Photos library on any storage-constrained volume and in Optimize Mac Storage mode (only applicable if iCloud Photos is active)?

That's in addition to the systemic issues that EtreCheck might help you find.

Fear not, anyone answering here has had their share of red faces, and some of us even more than our share. Just as a matter of record that's been there since the first iteration of iPhoto 20 years ago...