I don't think Pattern is dead, I do feel that it has lost it's popularity because it has priced itself away from the average flyer. However there is a special interest group, the Senior Pattern Association. I am a member of SPA and the reason I became so interested in it is for all the reasons I stopped flying pattern in the first place. I flew pattern until about six years ago. It became expensive and the flying became more like work. When I started flying SPA I loved it because they use airplanes that fly outstanding but don't cost an arm and a leg with a second mortgage to boot. The flying is competitive and very challenging. The people in SPA is what makes it well worth the effort, they are guys who love to fly pattern and one of the main concepts in SPA is the comradarie and fellowship between flyers. In SPA you don't compete against other , you compete with them, and there is a difference. All the folks I have met and flown with in SPA are some of the best guys to fly with and quite helpful. In addition to being some of the best folks in the sport there are several that are some of the best pattern flyers out there.
And like I said before to have a very competitive airplane does not cost a fortune either, I fly a Bridi Utter Kaos with an OS .61FSR and that is not only a great flying airplane but it is one of the best airplanes to fly in SPA. Setting up the KAOS did not cost me a fortune either.

SPA is a great organization, and chapters are forming all over the country. People are really interested in it because it represents what people love (or loved) about flying R/C and pattern. For anyone interested check out there website www.seniorpattern.com .
Take it easy!