>"Why should we spend money and time on a bunch of 

>dying old men in a dying old hobby about a dead technology?"

In my opinion, they don't need to spend any money or time on ham radio.  Just leave it alone and we'll be fine.   

In the past few decades, I have been disappointed in nearly every change and new initiative that has been brought forward.  I would not blame these entirely for any perceived decline in the service, but they likely have contributed.

Over the same time-frame I experienced the same disappointment in my professional field - broadcasting.  

73   Steve  WD8DAS