I'll say that as a newb, I think airsoft is continuing to pick up. 7-8 years ago I got interested in airsoft and did the reading and research, and concluded that the cost and logistics barriers were too high for me. Even now, 8 years of income (and expenses) later, if things were still the way they were back then, it would be a non-starter for me.
Now there are several indoor fields to play at in Toronto and even a target shooting facility, retail stores and lots of great advice and knowledge built up from you 'old guard'. Not to mention the AV deals in the classifieds.
As communities get bigger, they diversify. That doesn't mean the sport is 'dying', it is growing. Among all the newbies and dilettantes, you're going to find a small group of individuals that goes at it hard, gets out to those long milsim events and advances / advocates for the community.
Myself - I can't make that commitment. However, I'll go play CQB at Siege/UA, I'll take the training at TTAC3 and Action Air and I'm serious about improving my performance and communication and getting the right gear to support it. Maybe if my CINC lets me one day
, I'll even start getting out to field skirmishes.