This is a complex issue, but here goes.
There are a lot of things going on now versus '98 or whenever some others had gotten into the biz. Back then you had fewer programs, and actual quality by comparison. There were plenty, but nothing like today. So you have more sharks in the sea slitting each other's throats for the same dollas.
The surfers are now better educated to the internet, as well as they have come to realize their are more choices. So they are less willing to whip out those credit cards for the "in the pinch porn" they would back in the days. Just as a foot fetish person back in the day would have to settle for some weak ass shit, now they can get exactly what they want if they search some 10,000 sites to find the right combo of updates, quality, and content for their dollar.
You have the abundance of free stuff. So since you have that group of freeloaders who can get it for free, and get their minute man raisin's off in 20 seconds of someone naked other than their wife, they never have to buy.
Then their are all the shady tactics that have people paranoid to break out a credit card for anything because they are worried about the phisers and the rest out there.
What you have is a better educated customer who knows there is either more than enough free stuff if generic things get them off in 20 seconds, or they will continue looking until they find the RIGHT site.
Someone said a few years back that there would be a change, and it's true for this business. Over the next two years (atleast for the US webby) if you do not have a solid business plan, market, or network of sites. You will be shut out of this business. We've seen this happening all over the place.
Sure you will always have those who are still asking about how much money, and they have the next great idea, blah blah we hear all the time. But there will be a lot of consolidation, and the small fries will no longer be able to compete competitively unless they have an enormous amount of time, or resources to back them.
Beer money? Sure. But not rolling like a pimp, and all the other stereotypes.
You will always have those 3-6 month wonder kids to full the lower rungs of the ladder, but there will be few real players left w/i the next 2 years.
