Quality of bowlers has declined.

all the points you said are correct but there is one more factor,the fact is that the batsmen get all the attention and the crowds cheer a six more than a wicket, sometimes even if the six is from the opposite side. Anil kumble got the Padma sri very late in his career after he got 600 wickets (just an example.) if zaheer and sewhag are side by side we can easily estimate who will be mobbed. this is showing a negative impact on youngsters. who wants less attention???????????

i am not sure about it but have to agree that the rules r more batsmen friendly.as many cricketing greats pointed out,changing balls after the 34th over had taken away reverse swing from the action and the 3rd powerplay is one of the worst moves.

Well there is nothing to do with standards...a quality bowler is who can deliver at any given time when needed at his best. He can't complain that the boundary is small or the bat is powerful. I havn't heard any player or bowler in particular saying that shorter boundaries and powerful bats are the main reason for big totals. You don't determine a good bowler on the speed he bowls not even with the pace at which he takes wickets. Its all in accuracy and keeping things tight and occasionally taking wickets. That is what i think, a bowler can't take 2 wickets in a match and give more than 6 per over in his allotted overs, it will turn out to be of no use most of the time. Regarding teams posting big totals is because of the change in approach they take. Even in those days it was humans who were bowling and until now no robots are placed to bowl . So i don't think there is a reason to say that shorter boundaries and powerful bats are the main cause of big totals. But one thing i don't like is the third powerplay which the batting team takes whenever they want. I don't say i am correct...but this is what i feel Have a nice day