I admit I'm too low level a skater to understand all the issues - but it seems like it would be best to have stable rules, so everyone knows what to work on. Especially since figure skating is already such a complicated sport that very few people know all the rules that affect them.
The ISU makes a bunch of rules changes, I think mostly listed in ISU communications, regarding figure skating, every year, e.g.,
http://www.isu.org/en/single-and-pair-skating-and-ice-dance/isu-communicationsRecent changes pertain to ages at which skaters can compete in specific groups (e.g., novice, junior, senior), points awarded for various moves, factors governing GOEs, permissible moves for various purposes, permissible music, and so on.
Are there good reasons for figure skating rules to keep changing? If so, what?
How much of it is self-serving politics - i.e., coaches and national officials and fans of particular skaters want rules changes that favor their skaters?
Or a desire to place the coaches and choreographers who learn about the changes in greater demand?
How much of it is the emotional need of people on rules committees to feel that they have accomplished something?
And how much is due to a general trend towards awarding fewer or no points for moves which too many people are now able to do? E.g., if people figure out how to do harder moves, the rules might be changed so that easier moves earn fewer points, pushing everyone to learn the new techniques.
Are there too many rule changes?