Numismatics: Is it disappearing?

I'm still hopeful that true numismatists are still out there.
Have we become so reliant on third party grading that it is no longer possible to offer a coin without their stamp of approval? Is this an example of the corporation absorbing yet another hobby into the realm of executive control? Is legislation and regulation the next step? Is there no one left with competence to examine a coin, judge authenticity and perform the necessary homework of market research to draw a conclusion for themselves?
There was a time, not so long ago, when we had to figure it all out on our own. There were no books on die varieties. Market values were figure out by looking at dealer price lists. It took a month from when you sent out a price list to when a coin was ordered, the check cleared the bank and the coin made its way to the buyer. If a couple more weeks go buy without the item being returned, it was a good sale.
There was no electronic bidding. The only computers out there were being used by NASA to put men on the moon. Photos were unheard of. A typewriter, a photocopy machine down at the office store, and a whole lot of stamps. So many stamps you could skip a meal. You'd get sick from all the licking.
We had to develop skills. We had to learn to grade a coin. Leaving it someone else was unthinkable. We had to learn to handle and store them, with failure to learn an expensive lesson. The best way to get coins was head for the local coin show every season. Only 3 more months.
Coin collecting has changed. Some changes are darn convenient. Digital photos being sent around the world in seconds, instant payment in whatever currency you have, and overnight shipping. Other changes are not as grand. Reliance on the subjective opinion of a corporate employee ranks chief among them. I propose we keep the good stuff and strive to regain that which has been lost: individual ability and competency.