I do believe in continuing education. IMO Scubaboard, The Deco Stop, The Cyber Diver, and all the other on line forums are a form of continuing education. They do not require a checkbook or Visa card. The key to diver safety is a solid understanding of the basics - including rescue skills - that used to be part of every OW program.
+1 Jim. Back in 1989 when I passed OW, rescue (ascent & surface swim) was part of the course. It didn't make you red cross certified, but it taught you the basics, and there was no O2 bottle or defib device to learn. Speaking of which, when was the last time you saw either one of these? I suppose some modern boats have them, but we shore divers certainly don't carry one.
I guess I'm a sour on some of the continuing education topic because of all the parsed nonsense between Adventure Diver vs Advance Open Water diver, etc. I know, for the sake of keeping qualified instructors in the industry, they need to have something to teach or their income opportunity dies after OW for the most part.
In a nut shell, my thoughts are similar to Jim's...teach the complete course thoroughly in OW to graduate skilled, confident divers. If it means more Dive Cons helping on more dives, then so be it. There is nothing like first hand practical experience to build competence. Not sitting in a classroom where the instructor asks, "Did you read the book?", "Do you have any questions?", "Please turn in your worksheets from the back of the book." Uhhhhh! I'll take an old-style OW diver as a buddy any time.