On the topic of aging gamers and the need for replacements to fill out the ranks... I'd like to remind everyone that you don't die when you turn 40! I'm an original 80's gamer, started with the red box. I am 35 years old. Statistics says I've got another 35 or so years of natural life ahead of me barring accidents, bad habits, etc.
So we don't need to 'replace' any of our grey gamers -- we need to just continue to have fun and be open to new players from any source. There is definite room for growth, but I don't think it's quite the time to get alarmed about gamers dieing of old age. The Baby Boomers are in the rest home, D&D's generation are the children of Baby Boomers... we have another generation to go before the nursing home begins to house D&D sessions as often as bingo night.
So we don't need to 'replace' any of our grey gamers -- we need to just continue to have fun and be open to new players from any source. There is definite room for growth, but I don't think it's quite the time to get alarmed about gamers dieing of old age. The Baby Boomers are in the rest home, D&D's generation are the children of Baby Boomers... we have another generation to go before the nursing home begins to house D&D sessions as often as bingo night.