I think airsoft has changed as there’s a new wave of younger players getting involved; there’s certainly a lot of players who must look like someone they’ve seen on tv and the combat master is a perfect example of that imo. Technology advancements help to some degree, are they helping the sport though? It doesn’t matter if you’ve upgraded your gun with hundreds of £££ or got a rental on your first day. You can still enjoy yourself.
although I don’t understand the hype behind HPA, how some people demand realism with their gear, weapons and attachments but are happy to be powered by a gas canister cabled to their gun! But that’s just me