I was a bit dismayed to learn from N2EY's thread on FCC License Counts that of the current FCC issued licenses, the Novice and Advanced numbers have rapidly declined, while the General and Extra ranks continue burgeoning.
Why are you dismayed?
The extinction of the Novice, Technician Plus, and Advanced classes was made inevitable by the restructuring of April 15, 2000 - almost 21 years ago. FCC wanted fewer license classes, and the simplest thing for them to do was stop issuing new Novices, Tech Pluses and Advanceds, so they did.
Back in earl 2000 there were about 50,000 Novices and about 100,000 Advanceds. The License Counts thread shows the current totals.
Technician Plus was the first to go because after the restructuring FCC renewed all Tech Pluses as Tech, regardless of code testing history. By April 2010 they were all gone.
Novice and Advanced have declined because of amateurs who dropped out or upgraded.
I kept my Advanced Call when I passed Elements 1(C) and 4(B), because I liked its sound on CW. I got the Extra just to operate on a bit more of the HF spectrum.
I got the Advanced in 1968 at the age of 14, in the summer between 8th and 9th grade. Extra 2 years later because of the mandatory 2 year experience requirement back then. I didn't want there to be anything US hams were authorized to do that I couldn't.
I still like the extra spectrum privileges, but sometimes wonder if I should have remained in the Advanced Class for nostalgic reasons. At least I'm glad I kept the Call.
Anyone else feel the same?
Why keep a license that limits what you can do?
73 de Jim, N2EY