I wish I could offer some real solace to Mr. Gordon, for I have to admit his story sounds like so many others. Mr. Moos is quite correct in that his personal economy is in the doldrums because of a combination of the lack of popularity of truly original works, and the constant export of middle class jobs to the lowest worldwide bidder. The people who normally would have been able to swing the cost of a superb KOF bike are often purchasing some carbon extrusion. Other members of the middle class are being downgraded to the growing numbers of the struggling lower middle class because of this same globalization. The situation is not likely to get better any time soon. Some economists are saying that it will never get better, but instead we will create a world entirely composed of lower middle class with a very few ultra ultra wealthy, and just enough upwardly mobile success stories to keep the masses from revolting.
All is not lost however. As long as we are not in dire economic straights, we will learn to adapt and continue to dream and to create our own world by selecting what we do in our spare time and with our own friends. I think it was Voltaire who said something like "make your own garden grow". This may not include the financial success that Mr. Gordon rightfully deserves, but for the time being, things are not sooo baad that there isn't at least the a realistic hope for any one of us to succeed in the marketplace. There are still surprises in store for us, and for reasons of good timing or market knowledge those surprises may be quite fortunate.
Still though, I must admit to being surprised that Mr. Gordon wasn't one of the few that has already reaped the rich rewards. Just from looking at his work over the years, one would certainly have to imagine that this was the case.
Garth Libre in Miami Fl.