What you should do is find out if the number of people that take boating classes, such as Power Squadron, state classes, is on the rise, or decline. Then your assumptions could hold some weight. Self education of navigation has likely stayed about the same as most people don't educate themselves.

What's the difference between an uneducated navigator in the age of paper and on in the age of electronics? Nothing, they have the highest rate of accidents and deaths on the water.

"kids don't drive stick shifts anymore" Anyone disagree? Both my kids drive stick shifts easily. Go friend some kids. You sound like my grandfather.