Honestly no.
Same with my answer in the Vanilla/NTR is boring thread. That just means you watched too many "ecchi anime" recently. Since I watch many dozens of animes with different genres each season, I don't feel the boredom.
This season, even though I'm watching 6 series that has high ecchi content, but then I balance it with other animes that are not mainly about ecchi.
This Season Ecchi's that I watch
-Nisemonogatari
-Ano Natsu de MAtteru
-Highschool DxD
-Papa no Iukoto wo Kikinasai!
-Zero no Tsukaima F
Counter balance
-Another
-Bakuman 2
-Beelzebub
-Hunter X Hunter 2011
-Persona 4
-SKET Dance
-Toriko
-ETC
and to answer the question.
"No, it doesn't need to, but it is the most easiest material to use for a comedic situation."
and
Inb4 someone says "Old animes doesn't aim for ecchi, but STORY~~`" shit.. Older animes are even more ecchi than now. If you don't feel like watching ecchi genres, then just don't watch it. Don't blame the industry or the community. No one is forcing you to watch it.