I would postulate that there a as many or more people crusing the world than in 1975. They are living (like Brian Woolishan and others) the cruising world.

The magazine "Cruising World" which has been the rolled-up and/or sold a number of times is operating today as a commercial venture. It's a different magazine because i) the whole nature of of distribution and economics related to the printed media has changed, ii) the marine market has changed to become much more concentrated in fewer suppliers/manufacturers, and iii) we are in the grips of worst depression since the 1930's.

The result from Cruising World (the magazine) is the articles are much shorter and filled with less substance, the observations about boats is much more press release like, and magazine is less interesting -- regardless of whether you are interesting in daysailing, racing, casual weekend or seasonal cruising, or long-term voyaging. That doesn't mean that there isn't ANY content of interest, it's just a personal comparative observations (Kind of like the "good old days" comments that people make.)