The sad truth is that the base of the hobby has changed. Technology was supposed to free up more time for everyone, but it has become the way in which most people spend much of their time (I'm writing on an internet forum right now!). Given the choice between using their free time to build models or to surf the web and play video games, most people today will choose the latter and simply buy ARFs instead.

Just think if all the time spent staring at computer screens and being bombarded with pop-up ads was directed towards a more constructive activity like building model airplanes. Oh well, times change.

You can do your part by building the great classics from plans and when they ask you at the field where they can buy one, just tell them you can't.