No, it's not about a world of ever-growing complexity. It's a world of ever-growing inability to take personal responsibility for one's actions.

You know why you shouldn't put your electronics in the seat pocket in front of you? Because, in the case of an in-flight emergency, your device might fly out of the pocket and hit you. And then you'll sue the airline for injuring you because they provided you with a seat pocket but didn't tell you how to use it properly. So, they put a rule in place so that, if you try to sue them, the airlines can say "we told you not to do that, not our problem."

You know why you can't use earphones during takeoff and landing? Because, in the case of an in-flight emergency, you might not hear the instructions of the flight crew directing you to safety. And if you're injured as a result, you'll sue the airlines for allowing you to act in such an unsafe manner. So, another rule.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

It's the same reason why when you buy a toaster, it comes with an instruction manual that has one page telling you how to make toast and six pages with useful advice like "Do not use toaster in bathtub."