IMHO it's not tax, or recession - it's just the numbers
Not every pilot has a computer
Not every pilot with a computer has internet access
Not every pilot with a computer, and internet access, knows about PPRuNe
Not every pilot with a computer, and internet access, and PPRuNe awareness wants to be in a group
Not every pilot with a computer, and internet access, and PPRuNe awareness, and need to be in a group lives within your designated area.
I'd venture to suggest that this is worse at the cheap flying end of the market - time and again I've chatted with pilots who are happily tucked up in cheap syndicates operating from farm strips, and they are utterly ignorant of the joys of internet aviating.
Steve R