I'm 70 and I grew up fixing that which was broken. "Stuff' was manufactured with an eye to repairing it and replacing parts down the road to keep it running. VERY little for the past several decades has been built with that process in mind. Rather things are now meant to be thrown away when they break and a new cheaper one bought to replace it.
Durn few 'shop' classes exist in our schools. Few of the younger ones can troubleshoot and fix anything. That a new aircraft of most any kind, especially an "affordable" LSA, starts at THREE to FIVE times the cost of my 2019 Hyundai SUV is insanity personified. With most everything in aviation priced for the 'yacht and country club' set, is it any wonder that GA is in the state it is in? Sure ancient (30-70yr old)airplanes can be found for lower cost, but the new generation of owners would be unable to maintain them. When a new LSA costs the same or more than an Aston Martin Vantage? Expect to see about as many being sold to about the same demographic.
I 'could' likely qualify to earn a Sport Pilot license, if there were instructors, flight schools and most importantly aircraft available to rent after licensing that were not a two hour drive away. But there really aren't. I've had a true passion for all things aviation my entire life. The current state of affairs is honestly depressing.
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