I think you are right too Steve. For radio presenters and bookers, the job has become more difficult. There are indeed fewer venues for performers to build up experience in and there are more performers able to make high quality (from a technical point of view) recordings. So I can appreciate Ron's difficulties in selecting material.
However, I do not pine for the days when the right to record a good album was basically the gift of the record companies. Digital technology has made it far cheaper to make high quality recordings and it has forced down the price of reproduction, effectively smashing the majors' monopoly on what could be released. I am very glad about that.
The main difficulty we have now, is being able to offer our work to people, who might be interested. Fortunately, there are the smaller radio stations, some of which are prepared to play those who do not have massive music industry support. It is up to us to support them to the hilt.