While I agree with a lot of what you say, I think the equipment side of the equation is actually the opposite. The marketing that is done today has people believing that they can hit it as far as the pros. They also look and see Taylormade being the #1 driver on tour and see it as a chance that they can play the same as the pros. Same with the every 30 seconds a Titleist ball ad talking about playing the same ball the pros play. I think consumers now are connected to the equipment more than ever before because there is more of it and it gives them the option and opinion to believe that they are in the same league as the pros. The disconnect from the pros comes from in my opinion from the advent of video and grooving swings that are all similar. Sunday hackers dont look at the TV and say my swing looks like that. I really dont think less people pick up the game though because they thought they had a chance any more or less today than before. Just like any other sport. According to surveys done every single year by CCA (club corp of america) there are only 3 reasons that people give for the reasons that they do not play. 1. Cost 2. Time 3. Elitism It has been the same three things on their survey for the last 15 years and they list about 15 other reasons. It always comes down to those three choices each and every year that the survey comes out in February.