Not 100% pandemic caused because One thing I noticed over the past 2 years which was not in short supply was the number of 5G sites that were being installed here in the Northwest.
These cell companies didn't appear to have any supply chain issues and the 5G cell installers were busy.
The cell companies had no issues obtaining base station equipment to install everywhere and anywhere that they could.
Also Musk Rats Starlink and other sattellite providers had no shortages at sending new satellites aloft.
As mentioned a majority of the issues were the diverting of resources away from older loyal legacy customers to the select few loud screaming companies that are run and owned by the new breed of high technology Oligarchs.
You know all of the above is true because you have inside knowledge of parts procurement of those companies and know that those companies did not already have those high quality, high reliable parts already on hand before the pandemic. You don't walk into Radio Shack to buy resistors to use in space flight hardware.
Just so you know, when Elecraft announced a "final buy," I ordered a P3 for my other K3. That was almost two years ago. I inquired at Dayton, and Eric said that many of the ICs that were used in the legacy units are just no longer being manufactured. The cost to redesign the same units is not worth the super thin P/L margin that they are dealing with.
Do not forget the major wildfire that occurred last summer, where at least one Elecraft employee lost his entire house.
Let's not let facts get in the way of your rant.
You could always start a company to produce the same boards that Elecraft supposedly abandoned.
I've heard there are plenty of empty burned out buildings downtown Portland available.
What are you selling your K3 and P3 for?