I'm not sure you can compare the 70's and 80's to today. I am from Iowa as well but back in the 80's, you were luck to get in 25 matches. 20 win seasons were a big deal because you did not have the number of events you have today. Tournys were a big deal because there just was not many of them. I would bet overall attendance is not all that different. Just spread out over more events.