Your opinion but that's what this newsgroup is for.
First you need layouts that reflect craftsmanship. Are there really a lot of them out there? There are a few I know of. I know a guy who have beautiful layout but he'll never be featured in any magazines. He doesn't want the attention. The phone calls from people in town who want to stop by. The letters asking how such and such was made. I try to argue that there wouldn't be that much of that hoping he'll reconsider the invitiations from the magazines to do articles to no avail.
Perhaps what we see in the magazines is what they get. Have you submitted articles to any magazines?
Our hobby is not litered with craftsman. How many shows have you been to where the HO layouts use ballast way too large for HO scale and it is not glued down very well? Or where they use a grass mat for scenery?
Sal