Oh, Colin, that is right on the mark.  I remember the AM-ers feeling that the 
hobby was going downhill.  I was licensed during the waning battles between AM 
and SSB.  And, a few years after that, when two meters exploded as modified 
commercial gear was duplexed and the repeater was born, people thought it would 
be glorified CB.  Yes, that happened in an isolated extent, but it really didn't 
change the character of the hobby.

I think the thing that has changed the hobby a bit is the availability of good, 
inexpensive commercial gear.  You don't see nearly the number of people with 
homebrew gear any more.  Of course, SMC wiring is a lot harder than 
point-to-point.  I know many a good tech who won't touch circuit board 
components.

Steve, K8SP
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Colin McDonald" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, December 17, 2006 6:20 AM
Colin McDonald wrote in part:
I would imagine when SSB and FM were first introduced, many older hams
thought the hobby was going down hill fast and that it was only going to be
a matter of a few years before the hobby was dead...well, look at how those two 
modes have totally altered the face of ham radio, and for the better.