I think the whole minimal thing is kind of a logical reaction to both technical and musical progression of the last decade or so. Since we're able(ton) to do all kinds of freaky edits on audio samples and loops (eg timestreching) a whole new world of sounds emerged that fit techno music really well. The thing we call minimal now is just a way to express these sounds in the best possible way (by not using too many layers).
Musically, I think people have grown up and are getting more and more used to electronic sound (klik klak krik krak). If this kind of minimal would have been made 15 years ago, it wouldn't have become so popular i think..
Anyway, my point is that the challenge is in combining the whole thing. How can we use complex sounds in a complex way, and still get energetic dancefloor music?
answer: Go Hiyama / Grovskopa / Rumenige & Loktibrada etc.
in my opinion the future of hard techno.