hawky, I tend to agree with you. A similar situation exits in travel/real estate type media. All these freelance writers are out there competing with one another selling articles to Mr./Ms consumer who are sitting around in their recliners with a cold beer reading this stuff and then rush out to visit/buy up/overpopulate/drive up prices and basically ruin what was once a well kept secret and unique. The rush to get on board ruins the place, sucks the character out of it and this entity ceases to be the quaint unique thing it once was. There's no discovery anymore. Just read the article, hang by your phone, hang on your computer etc., etc. So, in our situation, if you can't have your phone in your work space, your computer activity is monitored, you're out doing tractor work-- whatever-- you're screwed.
Of course, it's a double edged sword, though,right? I'm certain the manufactures and retailers love selling out so quickly-- good for business. Elsewhere, property gets sold, houses get built, additional taxes are collected, more people to buy stuff, more traffic lights, traffic slows to a crawl, real estate, taxes and the cost of living go up, the cool places you once had access to are privatized, fragmentation takes hold... It's a brave new world, buddy and I empathize with you!