Jim, Dick says "the club scene changed", not sank. I think that is right. His points are good, as is yours, and a combination of these factors has resulted in the folk clubs you describe being few and far between. But there is a different folk scene now that incorporates the old and the new and while we may lament the good old days, there is still a vibrant and lively network of venues where people can perform, get involved or just listen to folk music. It is not all introspective songwriters and pop covers either, although there is an element of that. There is also plenty of traditional folk and good new music amongst the dross.