Thank you LL for saying what I've been saying for quite some time now. I knew you understood all the while.
In DC, we've become cheap and the true talent goes elsewhere, especially in light of the extremely challenged environment in this city, and our inability (or unwillingness) to keep up with inflation.
If you want quality, you've got to pay for it...simple as that. You get what you PAY for. If you don't, you end up with substandard quality and service, or mamasan...
Spend a little time in other areas with an active community (and economies not as robust as ours) and you'll find that yes, while you pay slightly more, you get much better talent. And I don't mean paying substantially more, but just not the 1990-200X rate (which hasn't 'officially' changed in 20 years, mind you...what other industry do you see THAT happening in?).
So now we settle for 'the condo', for roughly the same cost as before and only a few dollars less than the rest of the industry in other areas. With no TS. The industry has adjusted to our unwillingness to keep up with inflation by reducing services. Hell, the TS in itself, depending on it's quality and technique, can be up to 1/3 to 1/2 of the experience! So, in order to keep costs essentially the same, we accept gutting a traditional and (in my opinion) important part of the experience.
Now part of the drought is the climate, agreed. However, for the right money, the industry has traditionally taken the risk of the climate in stride. We've seen these challenges often before and we've seen the industry always bounce back...before...but unfortunately not today. It's ultimately a matter of incentive.
Inflation hits all over. You've got to keep up with it. If you can't, you should suck it up and be willing to accept a 'regressed' scale of talent, or abandon the hobby altogether.
Look, I don't have money to nonchalantly burn any more than the next guy. And, the current fiscal climate strains all, myself included. However, times have changed. Those that are unwilling, or unable to keep up with the changes should look for other venues of recreation.
Honestly, I don't mean to sound pissy about this. But I've been saying this for a while, in some form or another, before all of the current crap went down. So many places are closed and have not reopened. Had there been a true 'incentive' for people to reopen in other places locally, they would have.
WE, didn't give it to them...
Nuke