On 2015-04-21 08:23:10 +0000, gareth said:

I wonder if the dumbing down, whereby those who were too lazy or too
stupid, or both, to pass a Morse Code test were let onto the HF and LF bands,
is responsible for the surge in interest of HF rigs, with the secondhand market
allowing the price excesses of the brand-new market, and that once the
needs of such ne'er-do-well ignoramuses are satisfied, will the market
for HF rigs then die?

I know plenty of very motivated, intelligent people who have gotten
their license since the code was dropped. Is it your contention that
every ham licensed after the code requirement was eliminated is lazy or
stupid?

Most people seem to operate phone anyway, even the old guys who had to
take their buggy to the FCC testing center, battling Indians all the
way.