Dave,

I concur with your evaluation that sporting ethics have changed drastically over the last century or so. Our angling ancestors were as interested in filling their creel as they were in fooling a fish with something tied from fur and feathers. I also concur that I could still be using the rods, reels, lines and even leaders - silk lines, gut leaders, or even the spring-steel mono that we used when I started fly-fishing - and that I could still have a quality fly-fishing experience however, the one real advancement that has improved the overall fly-fishing experience is that thing we attach to the end of our fly line. I lose far fewer flies to the fish due to the increased breaking strength, I can land and release fish quicker because of this increased leader strength, I can present flies more naturally, and I can use smaller flies because I can obtain tippet material that is small enough to accomodate their use.
Hurray for catch and release, and Hallelujah for modern leader material.

Neil