Great essay, with lots of insights into the present, evolving state of the retail camera and professional photography businesses.
When I read Jim Kasson's comment: "When I was growing up in Muncie, Indiana, my father taught me about photography. Brownie Hawkeye, developing pictures in the bathroom, Kodak plastic tank with an apron to keep the film from sticking together, Kodak Tri-Chem Pak, contact frame, 60 watt bare bulb -- I'm sure you old timers know the drill. " of course I remember the drill. My hangout was Lincoln Camera, on Union Street (it had moved from Lincoln Street) in Wilmington, DE, long gone now.
I stumbled across Roberts recently when they offered a less common lens I was looking for in NOS (new old stock) on EBay. They were very professional to deal with, but I had no idea of the extent of their operation until I saw this video. Also, I didn't realize the margins were so high in used camera lens resale. (Have to bargain harder!) Their move into video, and audio for use with video equipment is part of a larger trend. B&H has a lot of that gear. Leica Store Miami (Dave Farkas' outfit) has a careful selection that fits with Leica's positioning of the SL as a high color quality 4K rig. Tony Rose, at Popflash, hasn't made that jump yet, so it is still a transition. Alain Briot's observation about video is interesting. I would assume that self-taught landscape photographers would not have much interest, but school-trained younger photographers should be familiar with current digital cinema gear, and street photographers with a documentary style should also care.