My observation is that I have been having more older students who can afford to fly but are less skilled than some of the younger element. My last silver IMCR stude packed in when he could not master the ADF to a high enough level and after after a couple of his landings were criticised. I have a renewal stude tomorrow who keeps it up but does not actually use it. I detect a growing fear of flying in weather along with a perceived poorer climate for longer in the year and overly pessimistic forecasts on TV. I also notice that as flight is experienced as a holiday bus trip for the young it holds no glamour compared to my early days. I know only a handful of keen pilots at PPL who regularly use their IMC. Personally I love it but you need practice for the confidence which I see to be lacking in many low hour and training ppl students. In UK we don't use light aircraft enough and the costs are still rising too fast for many.