I do agree that it is a personal choice.
I don't agree with the lowering of standards in part. From my PERSONAL observations, enough pressure has been applied to the lower end of the GA operators that the standards which they actually operate to are coming up...i guess they are figuring it is cheaper to do that than not operate at all. Those standards may not be 100% of what the regs say they should be, but they are a damm sight closer than what they were 10 years ago!