I think there are a variety of issues here. The commercialization plays a role as it encourages people lacking in the necessary skill sets to earn a cert that may be out of their level. There is also the issue of the instructor, who has the responsibility of denying a person of a cert if they are not comfortable that the individual truly has the skills necessary for that level. I have personally seen several instructors who have refused to sign off on a student (I applaud them for this). The third issue is the individual diver (student). It is my responsibility as a diver, and student, to recognize that I may not be ready for a certain level. I have 70 dives as of today...I am focused on earning my DM cert...I know that I do not yet have the skills that I believe a DM should have going into that level. Although I am very comfortable in the water and diving at a variety of depths and at varying conditions, I am not yet ready for a level of professional diver. Call me silly, old fashioned, naive, or uncertain of my own abilities, but I know that I have work to do on my air consumption and buoyancy...which to me are essential pieces that she be solid at a professional level. I guess though, if an instructor only has 100 dives and a limited skill set, then they are going to allow weaker and less skilled divers through in these courses. Although we live in a largely litigious society, perhaps the instructor should be held liable for a period of time after the student has been certified. As much as I can`t stand passing the blame, if the instructor is held accountable for who they sign off on, perhaps they will be more careful on who they pass through...This of course is not to mean that the new, inept instructor they passed should be waived of responsibility...