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barrysloateScott may or may not be correct that as cards continue to reach the stratosphere and many collectors continue to be priced out, other forms of memorabilia may be where they turn. But the fact is certain areas of the market have declined quite a bit over the last decade.
My first post on opening night was that book collecting was no longer popular, and many early historical documents, pre-1870 material, and other esoteric items were likewise losing popularity. With one exception.
If you can put it in a slab, it will increase in value. That is why Peck & Snyders, the recently sold Resolutes CdV, and related items have skyrocketed. If it can be made to look like a card it will sell like a card. If you had a letter that discussed the history of the Resolutes, it would sell for next to nothing.
Having been in the hobby for a generation, I've seen the baby boomers grow older and a new generation come in. With the advent of ebay and the grading services, the hobby has changed dramatically and will probably never look back.