I agree that the hobby is dying. At the field where I fly, there are maybe three or four CL regulars. The club is, of course, primarily RC, and most of those are flying the ARF or RTF foamies. Very few are building anything these days. The one remaining hobby shop that came close to having the things I need closed about a year ago. Another shop near me is now primarily RC cars and the owner is big on the RC jets. He makes components, such as exhaust ducts, for those monster jets. But, he rarely stocks balsa, plywood, etc. Why should he when so few are building their own planes these days?
I am lucky to get hardware, epoxy, brass tubing, etc. from him. He says his supply chain is a mess. Maybe it is, but the lack of interest in building has to be a factor.
At times, some of the RC guys will walk over to see what the CL guys are doing. A few said if the FAA imposes more ridiculous restrictions on RC, they will come back to CL. I have heard that before. It never happens.