I think more people can afford to be involved in general aviation today than 50 or 100 years ago.
Fuel cost, and over-regulation are the things most pilots seem to like to moan about at the moment (rightly so). Everyone else seems more interested in noise and pollution (yawn). So maybe if aircraft manufacturers could produce clean, quiet aircraft that run on free fuel atleast a few more people would be happy.
We no doubt can look forward to increasing regulation with the increase in airborne traffic (for when the aforementioned aircraft are available).
Personally I look forward to the day I can get in my single-pilot spaceship and go for a bimble round the solar system!
Oops I skipped straight to 100 years ahead!