Why do all audio forums on the internet seem "dead" ?

Actually since there are relatively few new audiophiles, you know, what with the Walkman, iPod, iPad and iPhone generation and given the lack of interest and or means to pursue an (increasingly) expensive hobby in the midst of a raging recession/depression, actually a series of them, I would opine the real average age of audiophiles doesn’t obey the Atkinson formula and to be around 64.

I could be handy, mending a fuse
When your lights have gone
You can knit a sweater by the fireside

geoffkait, you could again, be on to something here. Doing a very quick, very non-scientific study of my local audio group, the most stalwart, hardcore of the 300+ mailing list would probably fit neatly between JA's and your #, yet closer to yours. And I would agree that the market hit (2008) and continuing hangover, have left this hobby to waste for too many very logical reasons. Sad, but true. And we may well be the last remanent. 

doing the garden, digging the weeds
who could ask for more?

I read the big two audio mags for 10+ years and then let them lapse. I've visited the big two fora for the last 10 years as well and find interest (my own) lagging as well. Been there done that in both cases. The freshness wears off, the same posters soldier on with, in may cases the same well worn agendas. The same handful of trolls keep popping up with the latest disingenuous topic of the day and the same crew of responders, oblivious to being played, it seems, chime in as if on cue.

10 years ago I might have logged on to tell you how my first adventure with full system cable cooking went (hooked everything back up yesterday after 100 hours on the Dharma). But now, I realize, I'll just as likely have to start defending myself from ridicule as much as sharing any insights. Don't get me wrong, I don't cringe in the corner in worry over internet reprisals. But why bother.

I have one more observation which may be overly simplistic, but with the advent of the compact disc and digital audio, the quest for high-end sound from this VERY-convenient-to-use format was a huge stimulant
in the market.  I recall fierce competition to reduce "jitter" and other artifacts, not to mention a herculean effort to perfect the analog circuitry
as well (i.e. Levinson, Spectral, Meridian, etc.).  The endless comparisons to vinyl (are we there yet?) also caused an additional (and very necessary) wave of improvements in everything else, even wall outlets and the thickness
of power cables.  So now digital IS pretty darn good and truly enjoyable
to listen to, even for hours on end, and is still as easy as pie to get the music going without much if any physical effort.  You can even stream
music which is the ultimate couch-potato audiophile dream machine.
So i go back to my original argument that, while a $5,000 pair of speakers used to be SOTA, today even $50,000 may not be quite enough money to get the very best that's out there. Ditto for amps,
wire, etc.  And in the meanwhile, and BTW thanks to the HUGE improvement in the way CD's are recorded and manufactured, i am
(sorry to have to say this) SATISFIED- at least 95% anyway.  Can you blame me?  
   So when i see a gorgeous pair of speakers in an audio magazine for $90,000, i admire them for several minutes, read part of the review, and then give the issue to someone else to read.