You mean this part of the regulation, right?
> Prior to 7 January 2016, awards may be made to recognize single acts of merit or meritorious service.
Which corroborates my other claim - including the timing - about the tightening of criteria? Dang. That's wild. Good thing you have a source that you didn't link or apparently read.
https://ri.ng.mil/Portals/31/Documents/MILITARY%20AWARDS%20A...