True car people are becoming a thing of the past

You are right. We older car guys share some of the blame.
We engaged in too much gatekeeping and snobbery.
The amount of gigh dollar car guys who looked down their noses at the young kids with less "desireable" cars has always been a problem in this hobby.
I much prefer a young guy with something he is trying to build himself to the curmudgeon who cashed in his retirement to buy something all he ever does is polish.

But the culture has changed so drastically in every way imaginable the outcome would likely be the same even without the gatekeepers.