I think the internet, in particular YouTube and sites like Bass Resource has definitely shortened the learning curve. Back when I was a kid, I had to wait for the next issue of Bassmaster magazine or Field and Stream magazine to come to the house or until I got to see the latest episode of Hank Parker or the Bassmasters to come out.
Now days, you can learn to fish a Bull Shad, an Alabama rig and a Shakey head in 10 minutes from your smartphone.
It still takes time on the water to master the techniques, but you can have the fundamentals down before you ever leave the house.