Well put Steve,
Although I feel you mave have underestimated the fly fishing indusrty somewhat. Good marketing is a company's ability to perceive and interpret the needs of it's customers and make available a product that addresses that need, great marketing is all about creating that need in the first place. I feel there are a few Fly Fishing gear Manufacturers out there with great marketing abilities. I see nothing really wrong with that. I agree that we as fly fishers benifit from the "filter down" theory. Waders, fly lines, wading boots, rods reels etc...have all vastly improved since I started fly fishing 20 years ago...but oh man, that movie from the early 90's, well that wrecked everything... (just kidding of course)