Nitrox Requirement

[NorthlandDivers]

First of all the certification companies are not all alike.  With SSI you have to have at least 24 dives and 4 specialties to be an Advanced Open Water Diver.  I also don't know of any of the major certification agencies that you don't have to have at least 100 dives before you can take the instructor course.  What the Specialty Courses do as well as the Advanced Open Water Diver Course is offer a platform for new divers to continue their diving education with an instructor.  I have heard a lot mentioned on this site about mentoring divers.  This is one method of doing just that.  It also helps build the confidence level of the diver and provides diving opportunities.  What really makes the difference is going diving.  It's just like anything in life the more you do it the better you will be at it.
You are right that there are really at least 2 types of divers, however both groups consider themselves divers and I won't take that away form them because diving is as much a social activity as it is physically activity.  There is the diver who just wants to get their certification card so they can dive on vacation every few years.  Then there is the diver who buys there own gear and looks for every opportunity to get out and go diving.  They are both enjoying the sport of diving.  You do have to aspire to become a technical diver or dive with back plate and harness to be a good diver.  That's the great thing about diving you can find the niche that you like and dive it.  I love underwater photography and video.  Put a camera in my hands and I'll have a great time no matter where I am underwater.