Oh I quite agree ALL AGENCIES are putting out a lot of crap divers. Don't misunderstand me. I'm only addressing your feelings that they need to cram more training into a shorter period because students are breaking standards and are getting bored.
It IS NOT the agencies... it IS the instructors... I had two awesome instructors... if I couldn't have done the skills I wouldn't have gotten the card.... I'm glad someone is realizing that people ARE violating their standards and doing things like 3rds when they are certified for only 6ths.... 6ths is stupid... should be taught universally 3rds. Why learn to calculate your turn pressure for one cert and then change it for the next.... I was taught 3rds in my OPEN WATER CLASS... and I teach it the same way... If one of my students has an out of air in open water it isn't because I taught them to breath down to 500psi before ascending....