Hi Matthew, I just read your recent MMD posting.  The problem you
describe is true in my professional endeavor, engineering, also.
The reasons you cite are common to most senior engineers, and I
believe the same applies to senior folks in most disciplines.

We no longer live in an Apprentice-Master environment and haven't
for a long time.  Succession planning is part of running a business but
most businesses and their management fail [in planning], mostly because
they are not really committed to that activity.  It takes a long time
to develop employees, and that costs more than can often be funded, so
the can gets kicked down the road.  I'm sure you experienced that too
in your career.

I also wonder about the problem from the other side: the apprentice's
view.  Who, today, can afford to work for free (or peanuts) to learn a
trade of such niche proportions?  Sad to have to say this, but planning
a career in such a limited field might be nothing short of investing in
a dead-end career field with limited income-earning potential.

I'm suspecting that the future will find some talented hobbyists
stepping up to this challenge you so rightfully are concerned about.
I'm not sure too many could make a full time job of it like in the good
old days, but I hope I'm wrong about that.

Just a few thoughts I wanted to share.  Please feel free to share in
part or in whole, and keep up your commitment to the field -- I love
reading about your thoughts and work!

Brian Shaw
So. California