I believe that there probably are, and will be, fever that will never make it.
This asumption is based on the JAA requirement for maintaining a license. In my country there used to be a requirement for you to fly atleast 70 hrs (20 IFR) to maintain your CPL and IR. Furthermore every 6 month the equivalent to a PFC.
Today the hour requirement is 0 (zero!). All you have to do is pass your PFC once a year.
That's a substantial reduction in the costs of maintaining a license. Most probsbly give up due to financial reasons, however, today I can maintain my license for the equivalent of 250£ for the PFC, some 100£ in license fees and another 100£ for my anual medical. Everybody can afford that.