RE: How does the economic situation affect the hobby?
I live in China & was told the recent hobby shows in Beijing & Shanghai were a bust when it came to seeing customers, ie, importers/distributors/dealers from other countries. Local business is going great guns here through individual internet sales, but its the large production runs for export that keep the factories running. This mirrors the recent iHobby Expo in Chicago that had very little professional traffic.
From those in the business that I have spoken to, it sounds like its going to be hard times for many of the independent shops in the States as well as smaller manufacturers, especially if the forecasts for a severe recession come true. My wife has already told me to quit looking at some of the new kits coming out next year & build what I have. [:@]