I guess this thread is pretty narrowly focused on US dive agencies. Whereas in the CMAS system, decompression is a usual part of the rec diving curriculum. In the first course (CMAS*, like OWD) you learn already decompression tables and gas planning for decompression dives although dives are still within NDL limits. From CMAS** on, light decompression diving is usual. Their philosophy is rather that every dive is a decompression dive and the distinction between NDL dives and light deco dives is artificial, particularly for dives deeper than 20m. There's no CMAS equivalent to PADI Deep mandatory safety stop, it's considered a usual deco stop. CMAS Nitrox** (accelerated decompression with one stage similar to AN) is still considered a rec class and not in the tec curriculum.
The world's biggest training organisation is US based and the vast majority of "technical" agencies are US based. CMAS is an umbrella organisation and it is slightly misleading to talk about a CMAS training schedule as such.
However, the idea that every dive is a deco dive is a very good way to look at things and I think is the view of IANTD, TDI and GUE to name some US agencies. It is perhaps not promoted widely enough by commercial organisations, both agencies and schools, that seek to make diving accessible (another good thing) and don't wish to create the idea that it is dangerous or difficult.
In "no-stop" diving the decompression element is short enough that a normal slow ascent allows enough time for off gassing. But breathing hyperbaric gas will saturate the tissues and decompression of those tissues will occur as one returns to the surface. The saturation is not enough to require a mandatory stop hence "no-stop". It is all too commonplace to call this "no-deco" diving which is strictly speaking wrong.
Short decompression stops do not require huge investments of training or knowledge, simply the ability to hold a stop and to have enough knowledge to ensure enough breathing gas is available at the stop. Breaking out that additional training and knowledge is not a bad thing, hence the system where you have training to 40m with no-stop followed by a decompression procedure course. Of course it is possible to integrate the two and for adequate gas planning knowledge and buoyancy control to be built into the intermediate stages of training programs.
The terms "technical" and "recreational" are meaningless. As a community we often use them as shorthand but really they mean nothing. Marketing created the idea of "technical" diving to persuade people to buy more training and equipment.
I don't think any other hobby or pastime gets itself so wrapped up in nonsense as scuba. It certainly is fertile ground for people that enjoy argument for the sake of entertainment. Absurd tribal loyalties to training agencies are another odd feature of our hobby. It is quite strange. Then there are the equipment debates. Endless and pointless discussions about equipment that demonstrate a massive lack of understanding of the functionality of the equipment defined by tribal views rather than the simple demonstrable function itself.
Every dive is a decompression dive. That is a fact. The management of the off gassing by speed of ascent and whether or not to pause during the ascent needs to be understood from day one. I agree with the general consensus that this can be done by staged training and by the use of "no-stop" dive profiles in the early stages of training. This makes the OP's question a good and valid one. The next stage of training is to gain the additional knowledge and skills to introduce "stops" to the ascent. How you do that is not the big issue, simply that you do it.
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