The structure of higher ed has changed. I’m not sure if you’re in higher ed or just going by when you were in college. Degree plans have changed to be more streamlined and more Pathway oriented. As I have mentioned not only in reply to you before but on this board in general, this has resulted in some departments having to justify their existence or restructure their degree plans to keep up with what’s happening.
Also, you’re starting to see more programs implement Capstone Projects and more Service Learning regardless of the discipline/program/major. This is a huge change. This used to be for more Workforce programs, but the For Credit/Academic programs are starting to do this. And yes, the occasional History credit for bio majors or Comm credit for Nursing majors is definitely necessary.
As far as attendance is concerned, there is all sorts of research that shows higher attendance in class equates to more student success. While you personally may not have needed to go to class, that doesn’t apply to everyone. The average student needs to be in class as it allows them to learn in different ways via active learning and get questions answered they normally wouldn’t have. Also, I’ve had students tell me the friends they’ve made in the class helped with with other classes than mine, helped them find jobs, helped them find their best friend, or helped them through encouragement. You also shouldn’t forget—an element of this is also where you grew up, your educational background from the time you were little until high school, your access to study tools/tutors in high school, etc. Most students don’t have that. That could be a big reason why you didn’t need to go to class.
I have way more stories of students who tried the “I don’t need to come to class and will still pass” but ended up with a F in the class than I do for those who didn’t come to class and made an A (and I knew they’d make an A).