I can answer this question with one acronym definition:
P.A.D.I.= Put Another Dollar In
It`s not just PADI, dive education is becoming more expensive (as is everything else). Carlos Mencia says it best in his Dee Dee Dee video (so they lower the standards). Agencies are trying to make things much easier for OW courses and specialties (so there are more of them), that`s how they make money. The "old dogs" who have been diving since the 60`s and 70`s will tell you that back in their day the education was extensive for diving.