wrote

But since about the mid 1980s, we've been told that
the requirementsare "too high"....

Who told you that? Not FCC. Not ARRL. Not me.

I have proposed to the FCC that the "standard" full privilege license technical
requirements should be about on a par with the current Extra requirements.

And that there should be one other level, a "learners permit" with a generous
term of ten years to study and gain experience to qualfity for a "full
privilege" license.

Sorry to spoil your (il)logic.

73, de Hans, K0HB

PS: Looking for EPA in ARRL 160 tonight. They were scarce last night.