RE: The times, they are a changin! Say it ain't so Joe?
We've been hearing the same story ... of decline ... for as long as I can remember.
But, the hobby marches on. There has been a vast improvement in both the choice and quality of equipment. There has been a broadening of the hobby, with electric, spark-ignition, FPV, large-scale all becoming practical and affordable.
IMO, the OP is seeing nothing more ominous than evolution. And, he is viewing it through the tinted specs of the motivated "newbie" ... the level of passion which flying engenders in the early years, can be almost fanatical. Well, that was my experience, anyway.
Yes, "traditional" clubs are dying... and I say, "Good thing, too.". Far too many clubs have been centres of stagnation; somewhat akin to centrally-planned societies.