[sdiy] Death of DIY?

[KA4HJH]

This story won't be news to a lot of people on this list--but note the last
part:

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/07/16/BAGB4DOT0Q1.DTL

This, along with all the other exciting trends in electronics so lovingly
discussed on this forum recently leads me to an inevitable feeling of doom.
I feel like we're heading down a mountain, wheels on fire, going full-tilt
throttle towards a future where DIY has no place.

How are young people going to learn *real* electronics with no through-hole
parts (or solder or solderless breadboards), a rapidly dwindling supply of
experienced mentors, and all the tech jobs moving to wherever the labor is
cheapest? (meaning "don't major in EE, son").

I get the feeling that soon I won't be able to fix the simplest thing
myself without violating some law or costing myself more money.

Just feeling a bit gloomy...

-- 

Terry Bowman, KA4HJH
"The Mac Doctor"

"There is no Main Street anymore except at Disneyland--and try and buy a
gun there"--Hank Hill