I'm sorry if that comes across as grumpy but these threads are always the same. People who have either long left or who wish to leave will wax lyrical about how it was way better in the old days and how crap it is now. The people who are happy can't be arsed to post on PPRuNe.
And how do you know that they can't be bothered to post?
I freely admit that I detest the closures and the creeping cancer of contractorisation which is today so prevalent.
If there was a sudden surge need, how would YOU solve the shortage of instructors, aircraft and airfields in your present-day Utopia, BV? Or is Jack alright at Valley and that's all that matters?