The 'Dumbing-Down' debate continues

For those of you who are unsure, or haven't studied media, the 'Dumbing-Down' debate is essentially the view that today's TV shows, films, books and whatnot are being too simple, and less intelligent and thought-provoking, thus lowering the intelligence of the users or 'dumbing' them down.
As a through-and-through gamer, along the years I've always thought that the video game industry was exempt from this. But today, after a little nostalgic moment, I sadly had to admit that it isn't.

Today I bought Ultimate Sega Mega drive collection - essentially a large database of retro yet brilliant early arcade games that have been adapted and you can now play on the PS3.
As Sonic 2 was my all time favourite, that was the reason I bought the game, and was the one I played for the majority of today.

And it is insanely difficult as you go on. The fourth to last level is stressfully difficult. The penultimate levels boss is borderline impossible. And the final boss level IS impossible.
So while I was getting more and more annoyed, that I still couldn't complete my favourite childhood game nearly 10yrs later, I had time to think.
None of my current games are this difficult, and don't make me as annoyed. In the good old PS1 game days, I used to get angry nearly every time I played a game.
But modern games like Call of Duty with endless lives, or LittleBigPlanet with fewer deadly obstacles, or Batman Arkham Asylum with constant in-game hints. They're all so much easier.
Not like the logical Abe's Oddworld or infuriating Croc's World both on PS1. Croc's World was sometimes so bad it could have you spitting with rage at his constant deaths and failures.

So, there you have it really. Games are becoming easier and 'dumber'.....or gamers are becoming cleverer....or game consoles' controls are simpler.
Either way, I'm still glad to have Sonic 2 back. No matter how maddening it is.