Tom, I'd be willing to bet we have one of the highest washout rates in sports.
Information overload (bugsbugsbugsbugs), some practice is required (castcastcastcast), and FFishings snotty reputation as well..( so...what kind of rod do you fi..Oh,mines a ___,
with a custom___reel, designed for private water I have the keys to.....
Pricey gear, travel times to good water, fear of wading, knots, failure, hooks, snakes, etc......
I'm glad we were able to hang tough.
Because I have some similar memories, I try hard to simplify things, and make flyfishing approachable. Of course, you still need water and practice. That's the minimum.
But with many people, once they have experienced the "Water world", without pressure, it's pretty hard for them to put it down. I know I'm ruined.
I fish dries, nymphs, emergers, cripples, fry, worms, eggs, accidentals, and stuff that shouldn't catch fish, but does.
In any style I can learn, or make up.
Much of the time, I just sit, watch and learn. To me now, fish are a bonus.
I'm sorry, what was the question?
Jim