Well I got into this business way too long ago myself. And while yes domains cost more and hosting was outrageous, I mean I know my host back then was charged $5 a gig over the allotted bandwidth, and that was a deal as most where at the $8 level. But yes it in some ways it was easier because fewere where into the business, but while prices have changed today and there are a lot more people in the business, so too has the number of customers drastically increased.

So really it is a fair trade off in my mind. And what sold or worked 10 years ago can work today, I mean considering some of the sites out there its amazing they make money when they have nothing but plugins or content that isnt always licensed to them. But they make money but I think many who suffer today when they didn't 5 years ago haven't changed with how the internet itself has changed.

As for new webmasters entering the fray, its no different than 10 years ago. Some are in it for the quick buck and find out to their dismay there is no such thing. Others who are willing to learn the tricks, the nuances of running an online business will succeed. They generally do. It is the one's who buy into the 'get rich quick' or 'feed em shit' schtick that wind up losing their shirts.