I'm always a bit wary if these "getting easier" arguments, by adults looking back at them.
The same was said about GCSE and O Levels. I did the second year that GCSEs came out, so we only had O Level past papers and the mocks were O Levels, so i'm probably one of a few that did both O Levels and GCSEs in the same year, at the same age.
The main difference wasn't the difficulty, it was the extra coursework with GCSE- you couldn't just cram it in in the last minute.
I got the same grades in the mock O Levels and the actual GCSE, except history where my O Level grade was higher.
It's hard to compare. I think it's good that there are a lot more choices now. All our A Levels choices were academic subjects, and although I did them, I can't say they have been any particular use.
My daughter has delayed her university place by a year, because of money.