Personally I think its a mixture of instructors making sure people can handle EFATO's, local traffic situation, RT and the normal lessons.
The old school were more than likely negative RT
They were flying from grass strips with little or none local traffic.
They didn't have fitting between 737's and A320's to deal with.
Also some places the time of useful lesson has decreased as well. With a bit more than 10mins on the ground fannying around before you takeoff in an hour.
Where as old school it was start, engine check look left and right and bugger off.