G4NSJ - What happened to amateur radio? Where is everyone? Where is the ionosphere?

What happened to amateur radio? Where is everyone? Where is the ionosphere? Band conditions have been awful, 40 metres is dead. What's all this EQ business about? Why pump up the bass on SSB? Why run a kilowatt when you have a rubbish antenna? Join me, a grumpy old-school git, for a good old moan!