I find truth in all the things you guys are mentioning.
One thing I often have thought about, I wonder if credit cards also played a role in pool action going downhill. It seems to have been right around that time, in my opinion, that action went downhill. The average person for the last 20 or 30 years carries at least a few credit cards, and maybe 20 or 40 dollars in cash. Of course, pool players aren't really "average", but I still think there is something to be said there.
The sad part is of course, that the current model under which the average person spends money is so geared towards the big companies receiving money. It is almost as if we have been enslaved and manipulated into spending our own money a certain way.
People are also so brainwashed nowadays. Has anybody else noticed this?? Try for yourself, ask a few people if they would carry 2 grand in cash onto an airplane. They think you are full blown crazy if you would do this! People are afraid to carry even small amounts of cash! Yet, they aren't scared at all of buying a car that will increase their monthly nut by 500 and the car having no worth after they pay it off. Or buying a house that is 20 times their annual salary. It amazes me! People aren't scared of going into debt for the next 30 years, but they are scared to death of carrying a couple of grand in cash. It strikes me as very odd, and an almost manipulated way of thinking. It just is not logical, there is no way people would come to these conclusions on their own.
I think our entire society has been very cleverly manipulated toward only having money available to larger online corporations and purchases. It all makes sense too.... paying these credit cards online requires bank account, which are more esily monitored by the govt/IRS etc. There is also a record of everything. Everything has been purposefully geared to get money into the hands of big govt and corporations, and thusly much less cash floating around for the average person, small business, and of course pool players. Why not "fight back" and use cash more? Why not?! "Because we can't carry cash because it is scary". So strange!
It would be nice to somehow make this huge machine work FOR us. Here is a credit card reader that hustlers could have on them for their "small business transactions". Ha, I know this will never catch on, but I think it would be wise to look into it for gambling applications....
https://squareup.com/