The community made a major screw up when SPA, CPA and a couple other old school pattern groups got started. Our hobby tends to fracture, which makes it hard to grow. Had AMA pattern been paying attention to what the community wanted, they would have made a classic class using essentially CPA rules. CPA planes could have flown at the same event as 2 meter planes, giving pattern both an inexpensive entry level class and something to grow into. As it is, turnaround pattern has steadily declined, and classic pattern has mostly fizzled out due to competitors getting bored once they've made it to master class. It's hard to say if there is still time for AMA pattern to incorporate the obvious interest that is there for old designs and non-turnaround flying, but if they want to try and increase numbers that's probably the best way to do it.