the thing thats making ham radio wane is not the license fees, its not the elimination of cw requirements from the tests, or the changes in the band allotments,
cw is still popular and will be popular to anyone who wishes to learn it.
whats killing ham radio is the apathy of the hams themselves.
Do you teach cw or participate in training drills with new hams or kids wanting to learn?
do you actively elmer a ym or yl?
its part of our responsibility!
old gear ( yes its educational and satisfying to repair),( Kits yes you do learn something by building them),( Homebrewing
yes very satisfying when the gear you built performs for you).
going out and spending a lot of money on glitz and glitter and pumping out the full legal limit (Because you can)?
many people forget the simple answer in the tech test ( use only the minimum amount of power necessary to get the message out).
hearing seasoned hams tell you the little radio you buy or build is a P.O.S and you should smash it and but a "REAL" radio
viewing a bunch of goofy looking guys on you tube yammer on about this expensive radio or that expensive radio and telling you this is what you should buy if you want to be a "REAL" ham
of course includes a link to purchase one.
you want to change things so the interest rises?
change the apathy get involved with teaching and actively promote interest instead of throwing stumbling blocks around.