Is HAM Radio becoming a silent key (dying)?
I've have herd this before. The short answer is, No. HAM radio is not what it was before (in the old days). Not everyone is vary (necessarily) technical, nor douse everyone (necessarily) builds there own stuff (some do). The hobby seems to becoming, more for the appliance operators. For people who like to experiment with the "capabilities" of the hobby (RF propagation, communications, and some experimentation. Emergency communications, such as in ARES, RACES, CERT, SATERN, or/and ACS. HAM radio seems to attract two extremes. People who have money, and cheep people (There is less expensive equipment available, too). Some like old vintage tube radios, some like the latest stuff, others still can build there own (see Elecraft. (You can build your own, high performance HF, kit radio).  We all seem to like radios, and like to talk on them. This is usually, what is common amongst us...
However, I do think we are in a lag. The local (440.850 Mhz), high level wide area coverage repeater, used to have a lot of people on it, especially commuters; As recently as 2000-2001 - Now, hardly anyone shows up...

So what has happened to every one (where did everyone go. In order of importance)?

• Loss of the techie types, in the Silicon Valley area, of the HAM radio types,
• Family expectation have changed, for the HAM's. More on this later...
• Works expectation, on ones personal time - i.e., you work, commute, and sleep, that your life - That's it...
• People have retired, and moved away,
• The commute has become, ones last moment, of personal private time, left (a 10-12 hour work work day, and then, "hunny do's," = No time left for HAM radio...
• Change in the commutes, use of carpooling, etc.
• Too costly to live hear (in the Bay Area), Many have moved a way,
• A few annoying persons, have chased people away (bad radio etiquette; Interrupting; Boring; Bad English, etc. And they don't take input well (One person was asked to stop, they don't stop, the ARRL OO's were ask to intervene, and refused.  I personal contacted the Guy at the ARRL, in charge of the OO's; He stated that, bad etiquette, dose not violate FCC rules; Suggested more mentioning (this has had little effect). Bottom line - good people are chased away, borring& and interrupting persons remain...
• And, dying (silent key) older HAM's.
• Cell phones use...
• Local building codes and ordences, and CC& R's, restricting antennas, and radio operations...
• Attitudes about antennas (The visual impact (I think antennas, can be beautiful, not all agree). Perceived concerns about, what the nabers will think. Perceived concerns, on the impact to the tree, property, value. My wife said no... Etc.)...
• RF exposure concerns...
• Leased vehicle don't alow two way radios...
• Interference, Intermod, pirates...

Things have changed over the years...
The older, typical HAM; A HAM, has his station in an extra room, or even in the bead room(?), or wherever (she had little say).  He spends a lot of spare time there, a way from the family, on the air, building or repairing equipment.
Now. one can't afford any extra rooms. It's for the new baby, the kids (every child, got to have there own room, especially if there a teenager), or needs to be rented (sub lease) out, in order to afford the rent or mortgage. And, the HAM station, sure is not, going into the bead room (she wont allow it. I personal, can think of better things, to do their (Hi Hi) ;=).
There is little personal spare time, today. Between work and family life, there is no time left. I once herd on simplex, a HAMs wife saying (she's licensed, too), "You don't love me any more" (crying over the radio), because this HAM, was going to a HAM Radio flea market. The only thing he had planed, of HAM radio related thing (weeks ahead of time. (The Flea market, is only once a month)...

Our local club(s) meeting are relatively empty at 5-15 people (of ~100 Members). Once 25-50+ (200 members) showed up (1990-2002). Everyone, seems to have, other things planed, usually family related...

So is it that, Feminism, has killed HAM radio? No.
The western world has changed, in a way that is, detrimental to HAM radio (and for anyone, to have any type of hobbies, or a life out side of work or family). Besides, I think there are even more women HAM's, than probably ever before. I think this is a good thing...

So is it all bad? No.
I think were still getting new people into HAM radio. (I have gotten maybe 20-50+ (I lost count) new HAM's into our hobby)  Although, I think the math shows, more older guy's, dying than newbee's.  last I heard, we USA HAMs, are at approximately (more than) 500,000 (750K, almost at one point) licensed Amateurs...

Do I sound too pessimistic? Maybe.
I'm unemployed, I can can't find a job (the time is in years, now). I'll maybe homeless soon. No one will higher a white older looking dude, to flip hamburgers or do whatever. I am still going on interviews, though (electronics related).
In the past, I have gotten more jobs, because of my hobby (HAM radio), than not - I think. However, recently I went on an interview, where I think, one of the interviewers, hated HAM's, he was verbally abusive. He implied that I lied on my resume. I'm honest to a fault. He seemed to, especially, become critical when, any of my "HAM gained knowledge," came up.

So, yes, at this moment, I am pessimistic in general...