Making a DX contact is always exciting to me, even after 30 years of doing it. I don't really care what class license the person on the other end has as long as they are following the rules.
Here's a little story that I think puts it in perspective, at least for me -
A number of years back I was part of an advance search and rescue team - meaning that when time was a big factor they sent us in first and that usually meant that we would be running full out 5-10 miles or more up mountain trails with 50lb packs to reach areas that helicopters or other rescue teams couldn't get to. Then we'd have to perform first aid and then carry someone down a mountain until they could evac them.
It was one of the toughest and most rewarding things I've done in my life.
Being part of this team was considered very prestigious and lots of people went through the testing to try to join but only about 1/8 would pass the testing because it was so intense and you had to be insanely fit.
As time passed, for whatever reason, being part of search and rescue wasn't as interesting to people and less people joined and even less people tried to join the advance team. As we got older we had less and less young replacements coming in and eventually they changed the testing rules to make it easier.
Was the caliber of new recruits as good as the old? Not quite, but it wasn't like they made the test so easy that fat albert could pass it. It was still tough, and the new team members were still dedicated, and they still did a great job saving lives. They didn't join just because they could, they joined because they were dedicated people who wanted to participate in something amazing.
The technician class test may seem easy to people on this forum with 20-40 years of radio experience, but for someone to want to take the test, to study, to make the time to attend the testing at a local hamfest or library, means they are excited and want to participate in radio. I think more people on more bands is good for amateur radio.
