The way I see it Connaught is that the Avionics categories after being treated as a sub race in the 50s and 60s have recently been treated as equals with the mechanical trades. These rule changes alter the balance and take away some of their current priviledges.
In the new world where training and apprenticeships have to be paid for, why would anyone go into Avionics or stay in Avionics with a now very limited career path. Much better to start somewhere else, ie IT or mining where you are respected than spend a career being treated a 2nd class category.
As far as trouble shooting.I suspect the biggest problem in trouble shooting a complex electronic problem with the new approach is that it is very easy to initially mask the real problem with an LRU change.A little bit of knowledge is sometimes dangerous.
Wunwing