There is no correlation between a lower accident rate and moving further away from the way things "used to be," at least as applied to the attitudes of naval aviators, or should I say those who aren't the 'stick-up-their-ass, no-liberty-until-morale-improves, I-live-for-safety-standdown' types.
NATOPS evolves, that's one reason.
Technology allows us to pick up trends and conduct a more thorough analysis in maintenance, operations and training in ways we never had before the early '90's.
Plug-and-play maintenance boxes have a positive impact on not only the airplanes but the maintainers, who will always choose a 15 minute swap out over a 2 hour evolution with a maintenance chief pressing you to hurry.
Airplanes trim themselves; you can't put a price tag on that.
For all we mocked bitching Betty when it rolled out, sometimes Betty has a clue before the pilot.
Multiple computers assisting the pilot's decisions with regards to flight controls may eliminate the pilot's ability to brag about flying a true stick-and-rudder airplane, but it has sure helped reduce the number of ejection seat functional demonstrations.
Pilots still do dumb things, and sometimes you bite the dog, and sometimes the dog bites you. That hasn't changed.
Please don't try and tie the improved accident rate on pantie-wearing aviation attitudes.