Dean, don't be too dismayed. There's still plenty of home brewing going on if one reads this forum. However, one has to face reality too, after all, we don't drive model A Fords any more either :wink:
With regard to PCB making at home, fine for simple single sided boards and it gives one a good insight in the etching process.
However, it also leaves one with a batch of nasty chemicals to get rid off eventually. And, the result of a home PCB etching process, especially about where the tiny spots to drill the holes later is concerned, often leaves a lot to be desired.
You'll find that almost all professional PCB makers have a prototype special on offer. So, for just a single board, the price is very reasonable if one supplies one's own artwork ( check first what software they use).
That way one gets a real flash PCB which can often be had even cheaper if one requests no holes drilled, assuming one has a suitable drill press and carbide drill bit for that job.
With regard to your amateur radio comments, yes, a ready to use transceiver seems to be the norm these days but there is still room for home brewing other bits like low pass filters, antenna checking gadgets, various power supplies, even solid state linear amplifiers and, of course, the antenna itself. I have a box full of home brewed amateur gadgets that, sadly, have not been used for a while since I am not active these days.
Klaus, VK6AKS