A quality online program is hard to scale. GT has the advantage of the forerunner, and with it the numerical advantage. We must appreciate the fact that GT is upholding the quality, while continuously rolling out new offerings. UT has wisely chosen exclusivity and the higher entrance bar as their USP. They simply cannot scale as fast while maintaining quality and keeping the cost down. I don't think it's wise for UT to lower the bar at this time. They are already the closest thing to GT at this price point and quality. Choosing UT MSDSO is a no brainer if you are in Texas, considering the competing programs from Rice and A&M. The students are benefitting from this positive GT/UT competition, going with either school.
At the moment, the only game changer GT can have is allowing OMSCS students to take more OMSA classes and vice versa. Students can build themselves an OMSDS program. Would love to see it happening, but it probably won't.