I think the trend has always been to get more complicated since every dealer has a service dept conveniently attached to it. More things to break, more things to fix.
Also, technology always advances, and every advancement means that we as humans do a little bit less. And each generation becomes just a bit lazier than the last.
I mean damn, I learned to shave with my dads single edge, old even then, razor. Now the disposable ones have so many frickin' blades they won't fit under my nose.