Good news for the hobby - backed by real data!

[EtchedPixels]

....... I don't believe that price is a barrier to entry for young people in any meaningful sense.....

I would challenge that statement. You only have to look at the predominant age group exhibiting or attending shows. It's certainly not youngsters.

Most people under 40 I know are having trouble paying the rent let alone buying model trains, not that they'd have anywhere to put them in their pokey HMO room either.

And a value range really isn't going to help because they have zero money despite working 6 days a week.