I think the mainstream of our hobby is dead wrong when it comes to why we aren't drawing new young people info the hobby.

Willing to work- Some people are wired for mechanical type things and have the itch. They hasn't chsnged. The growth of maker spaces all across the country is evidence of that.

Parents not willing to devote the time- Did you ever attend a select baseball or soccer game? How about varsity football? Parents will devote immense resources to activities if they see value in it.

Kids can't afford it- PS4 systems were $600 when they came out, and 15 year olds bought them faster than they could make them. Games are $60 a pop, plus the Iphone and data plan most of them have isn't cheap either.

Instant gratification- Yes, kids go for it. They always have. But I teach middle school and know plenty of kids who plan and work for what they want.

So what is the problem? I see two. First, planes aren't new and cool. They were in the 50's, even the 79's, but not now. Second, clubs have become increasingly unwelcoming to young people. Older pilots are impatient and want to see a full lifetime commitment before training even starts. Some won't let new guys who show an interest just enjoy it.
The good news is that kids still like this stuff. I teach middle achool tech ed and engineering, and have decorated my room with some old planes. Kids ask me about them all the time and want to fly them. If we welcome those few and let them have a good time with it, our hobby will grow.