The validation work that has been done in 3.0 is actually totally separate from the ORM features.  The table objects can contain methods that [create sets of validation rules](https://github.com/cakephp/cakephp/blob/3.0/Cake/ORM/Table.php#L1066-L1098). Built validators are then [passed to Entity objects](https://github.com/cakephp/cakephp/blob/3.0/Cake/ORM/Entity.php#L458-L463) where the rulesets are applied.

Having the validation and service co-ordination moved above the ORM\Table could work as well. My worry with something like that is new developers have even more classes they need to build/generate when they are trying to learn.