Even with fare wars it was fun to fly. Ask those who were either in the industry directly or tangentially, it is not fun for them anymore. And like you I know of some that prefer to drive. Rather than adopt Israel's mare stringent screening with the benefits of real meals with silverware when you fly, we are lucky to get pretzels...
Now those with access to a Mooney, Bonanza or an "RV-10" going to one of these 450 airports will potentially get this new treatment. It is very sad....
Their are those in the homebuilt/aircraft design arena with some interesting ideas for low cost 4 seaters utilizing different powerplants and construction techniques to bring their cost in at not much more than a luxury car.
With this as a backdrop, would you put the "Capital" in to such a project now? That assumes you could get you hand on some Venture Capital/Angel Money.
It is no secret that the left hates General Aviation. They will make sure that the super wealthy elite, people like Al Gore, will be able to own a fleet of private jets and fly from one mansion they own to another around the world. But the leftists just hate it that some vulgar commoner can get in his Cessna 150 and go 300 miles away for a weekend vacation. Heck, the left hates it that a mere citizen can get in his car and take a 50 mile trip or just drive downtown to the mall. The only form of transportation the Marxists want for the common people is a cattle car.
I’d see more movement towards small rotorcraft like autogyros and gyroplanes that don’t need airport facilities and could land in an open field or large backyard.