AOW is not "4 or 5 more dives with an instructor". It is a collection of new skills.
What skills?
The dives are experiential. That's why PADI call them 'Adventure Dives', not training dives. There aren't any significant new skills introduced. Where there are new skills (i.e. "using a torch" or "counting kick strokes") they could hardly be defined as task over-load for any reasonably competent novice diver.
Examples:
Deep Adventure Dive Performance Requirements
1. Descend using a line, wall or sloping bottom.
Existing skill - taught on Open Water
2. Compare changes in color at the surface and at depth.
Not a 'skill'
3. Compare a depth gauge to another diver’s depth gauge.
Not a 'skill'
4. Ascend at a rate not to exceed 18 metres/60 feet per minute using a dive computer (or depth gauge and timing device).
Existing skill - taught on Open Water
5. Make a safety stop at 5 metres/15 feet for at least three minutes.
Existing skill - taught on Open Water
Night Adventure Dive Performance Requirements
1. Descend using a reference line or sloping bottom.
Existing skill - taught on Open Water
2. Communicate on the dive using both hand signals and dive lights.
Existing skill (hand signals) taught on Open Water - torch signals are new. Required ability - use a torch
3. Demonstrate how to use a dive light, submersible pressure gauge, compass, timing device and depth gauge at night.
Existing skill - taught on Open Water - torch use is new
4. Navigate to a predetermined location using a compass/ natural features and return to within 8 metres/25 feet of the starting point. When necessary, surface for orientation.
5. Maintain buddy contact throughout the dive.
Existing skill - taught on Open Water
6. Ascend using a reference line or sloping bottom.
Existing skill - taught on Open Water
Navigation Adventure Dive Performance Requirements
1. Maintain neutral buoyancy.
Existing skill - taught on Open Water
2. Determine the average number of kick cycles and average amount of time required to swim underwater at a normal, relaxed pace approximately 30 metres/100 feet.
3. Navigate to a predetermined location and return to within 15 metres/50 feet of the starting point using natural references and estimated distance measurement (kick cycles or time). Surface only if necessary to verify direction or location.
Often taught on Open Water. Required ability - counting
4. Position and handle a compass underwater to maintain an accurate heading while swimming.
Existing skill - taught on Open Water
5. Navigate without surfacing to a predetermined location and return to within 6 metres/20 feet of the starting point using a compass and estimated distance measurement (kick cycles or time).
Existing skill - taught on Open Water
6. Swim a square pattern underwater, returning to within 8 metres/25 feet of the starting point using a compass and beginning from a fixed location. Recommended size of square – each side 30 metres/100 feet, or total combined length of approximately 120 metres/400 feet.
Existing skill - taught on Open Water, just extra turns added.
If you are still preocupied with the basics then...
You were either short-changed on your OW course or have allowed your core skills to diminish since qualification (lack of use/bad habit forming etc).
Either way, the following Instructor Standard should take care of that issue:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assessing Open Water Dive Readiness For Continuing Education Courses and Open Water Diver Referrals
In preparation for the dive and before beginning open water dive skills, assess the diver’s skills and comfort level inwater and generally assess dive knowledge. If the diver exhibits lack of dive readiness, remediate before training progresses.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By that standard, no student should be taken into progressive training, unless their prerequisite skills and knowledge are acceptable as per the stated performance standards of the prerequisite training courses (i.e. OW for AOW). This should, in theory, ensure that divers were ready for continued training and prevent "mutual waste and folly".
If students are admitted onto training dives without those stated prerequisite capabilities, then it is a failure of the instructor concerned to correctly apply training standards.
I've turned several training courses into remedial sessions for sub-standard students. I start AOW with the PPB dive... this serves as my assessment. If they struggle to achieve OW standards/expectations on PPB, then it becomes a remedial, not a progressive training dive. On occasions, it becomes a 'Scuba Review' type dive. Obviously, remedial dives aren't counted ('signed off') as adventure dives contributing towards AOW. Only when the student reaches the prerequisite standard (i.e. OW performance standards) will Adventure Dives be conducted.
The student's baseline competency shapes the structure of their AOW training. I tailor each course with the goal to promote development, regardless of the student's starting ability. Given 5 dives with a student, I can make substantial improvement to their overall diving skill and knowledge. I tend to view AOW as a cumulative process of development. Each successful dive brings new capabilities - those capabilities are then rehearsed and refined over each successive dive. If dive #1 is PPB, then I drive the student to apply that improved buoyancy/trim/propulsion on each subsequent dive. If dive #2 is navigation, then the student wears a compass and navigates every dive afterwards. Dive #3 is the Deep Dive - so students precision plan and conduct remaining dives showing increased awareness of depth/time/NDL, along with proper ascent rate and safety stop (without prompting or guidance). Dive #4 is the Night Dive, which I use to stress team/buddy skills and communication.
End result: 5 dives to work on buoyancy, 4 dives to work on navigation, 3 dives to work on planning/profiling, 2 dives to work on team/communication skills etc etc...
Sadly, I am assuming that my approach is a minority. Many instructors don't conduct an effective pre-course assessment or are content to sign off Adventure Dives when they are actually remedial OW dives. The worst simply tick boxes and take students on glorified fun dives. Hence, the general disillusionment with AOW by divers, who are taken through AOW as a 'tick the box' exercise that neither remediates weak OW skills nor permits progressive development of skill.
Rather than viewing AOW as a serious opportunity to progress ability, it is commonly viewed as a 'necessary expense' that you have to attend to get your 'license' for 30m/100ft.
For the record, I currently only offer OW and AOW as a combination. It takes 5-7 days (depending on time needed for theory) and consists of 10 dives total. That dive/day count represents a minimum - students do more if they need to. Performance, not attendance, matters. I get very good results. As a personal matter of ethics, I just don't believe that 4 dives on an OW course is sufficient to sign-off the vast majority of people as competent, safe divers.