From my perspective as a pseudo historian, I would have to say that Eagle has technically become much harder to attain. A project has only been required since about 1970; and that is by far the most difficult requirement overall. Some scouts are buffaloed by certain merit badges, but these have remained similar in nature for the most part, though some have been replaced with more modern versions, or have come, gone, and come again.
While researching my troops early Eagles, I discovered that boys were not even registered as Eagle (or Star or Life)until about 1940. The rosters listed them simply as "First Class with merit badges". Technically, adults could earn Eagle up to just after WWII, though it was broadly discouraged almost from the outset. But earning the earlier ranks was much more difficult.There were more pioneering aspects, camping equipment was makeshift and crude, and signaling was a requirement until sometime in the 60's.
I truly feel that the biggest change is not in the requirements, but in the attitudes of scouts, parents, boards of review, and even the council offices. We have had at least 2 specific cases of council overriding a board's decision not to award the badge. In both cases the scout's parents complained and threatened law suit; suddenly there is a new board put together and gee, he now passes. But this happens at the lower ranks as well. Often no one is willing to hold the scouts to the full intent of the requirements. Often the SM refuses to not put a boy up for review, even when he has strong concerns about his "spirit". And of course we have the "Eagle mills" out there. No outside counselors; constant group merit badges. Yet, even with all these problems, the vast majority of the Eagles I have met in our council over the past 24 years are really good examples of scouting. There have always been exceptions; and most scouts recognize these, and do not have a lot of respect for them.
All of this really is a reflection of our society as a whole. The general malaise of attitudes that do not expect "the best"; only the minimum they can get by with. In my troop we have a quote that is a fixture at the top of our blackboard; "Live the twelve". That is what we, in our troop expect. If they "do their best" and "Live the twelve", everything else falls into place.
