One thing about the hobby that has changed greatly is the open-ness of the railroads themselves. Sure, 9-11 changed things, but lawsuits and liability concerns have also made railroads unwilling to invite people on the property like they did when I was a kid. And personal safety makes some formerly great hang outs unsafe as they have been taken over by gang bangers, vandals and other criminals that our society seems to think now have a right to exist in our world. Yes, things have changed, but there have always been @#$%& in the hobby---every hobby for that matter---when I meet one I just go the other way (because it's illegal to kill them. Just kidding!) If you want to feel better about the hobby, attend a convention for another hobby---say a Star Trek convention, Sci-Fi convention or a stamping group convention, vintage car swap---and then go to a railroad swap meet, we look pretty normal after all. (Met the most people in the "know it all" group at the Star Trek convention--they even 'correct' the writers of the show!!)