It's partly to do with changes in airfields as you say, but also partly to do with the skill of flying tailwheel aircraft becoming rare amongst instructors, so that nowadays tailwheel flying is presented as a big deal, whereas our grandads soloed Tiger Moths in three to six hours. Also, to be frank, tailwheel pilots don't really mind the generation of a faux mystique associated with flying "real" aeroplanes. Bear in mind that, as appears from another thread, some instructors seem to think that landing on grass is an arcane specialist skill.
I recommend doing your tailwheel tick on a Cub, as it's a good generic type of tailwheeler, and a delightful aeroplane.
Even better idea: do what NinjaBill did and obtain your PPL in the Cap 10 at Sherburn. Thereafter, transitioning to a Pitts ought to be no big deal.