But, you know, it sort of proves in an interesting point. Market/Technical/Cultural forces will push things one direction, but groups can choose to pay the higher costs to go in alternate directions.

It will be interesting to see where cultural sub-groups maintain either existing (but now niche) or otherwise alternative vestiges of the current-mainstream when the rest of the economy moves onto something else.

Are bookshops like this? A legacy of the pre-online/pre-megaseller era, but maintained by the bookish minority? Now potentially augmented by a coffee/tea shop and a greater focus on community events? Where else is this happening?