Less paperwork NOT less maintenance !
Most maintenance on light aircraft is done because it needs to be done, a lot of the paperwork is just so much bull.
The example of a Cessna 152 only now needing a 100 hour check is a bad one, correct the airframe only needs a 100 hour check but the engine requires a 50 hour oil & filter change so the saving is not as dramatic as it sounds.
The big savings from the new wave of EASA enlightenment can be seen in the CS-STAN document, here the cost savings are substantial when replacing old equipment.