That's sad to hear... Seems I was there after the 90's, or at least later 90's, but maybe it was early enough in the change that it wasn't so apparent... though I do remember being pretty pissed at the cost at the campground... I was never much for swag, so I wouldn't have seen that.
The most noticeable change was in the AMA run patch (aside from things on Main Street and traffic). Before the 50th, it was one guy on a chopper riding past the faces (Mt. Rushmore) with the color of the background varying from year to year. The 50th patch was black. After that, it was a couple on a pacific coast goldwing looking bike riding past the faces, and back to a color background. Hmmm. Before the Rubbies got into it, hardly anyone stayed in a motel, and there was room at the campgrounds. That changed, too, and the rates went waaay up. About the same time Easyriders started their "Bros Club", where you could be a "Bro" for a mere $29.95 a year...'designer' leathers...and a police officer on every corner (and four more in between).
Oh, I still saw a lot of old friends, and the riding was good, even if the traffic was nuts. It just wasn't as much fun.
All that money flying around didn't change things for the better.
