Funnily enough, the validation process *is* evolving, and has been for some time.
Self-validation - for some events, by some organisers - is relatively new, and the BRM process has changed too, no longer needing quite so much posted to Paris (yes, ACP accepts electronic submission, from AUK rather than from individual organisers). No doubt further changes will come.
As for BRM events, personally I'd prefer to see more rather than fewer. If you want any of the ACP awards, you need to claim using BRMs not BRs, and where organisers of long brevets in other countries require qualification, they also often require BRMs rather than locally validated events.