There is an overwhelming trend to make applications exceedingly simple to use. The rationale being, if the user does not "get it", then they might not adopt it at all.
Google brought in this vending machine user interface to the web. Just like, when you want to consume a Diet Coke, you press few buttons and a Diet Coke is dispensed, without much effort from the user's part. You simply type in a few search terms and your product (which is a website list) is dispensed.
Vending Machines result in faster adoption than,say,learning to type using a QWERTY keyboard or driving an automobile. But, unfortunately, such a minimalistic approach might not work for all contexts.
For contexts which cannot be simplified beyond a certain point, I suggest a new tool, called the usage roadmaps.
Instead of releasing newer and newer versions of user interface of the product, which requires constant user learning,you decide on having only one version of the Product UI. A first-time user will have a skin as a User Interface.
As the user progresses in usage, let the menu items and other user interface aids, appear progressively. This requires that your product should have a "usage roadmap".
Such usage roadmaps must align well with product roadmaps.
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