I finished reading Jeff, KE9V's insightful commentary into the Big Show in Dayton, Ohio and I recommend reading his post. His insight is both objective and pragmatic.
Dayton in the Rearview Mirror | Smoke Curls: You couldn’t spit without hitting a booth manned by somebody that no one has ever heard of, promoting their new SDR offerings. This technology has reached the point of true democratization. Anyone can jump into the business of providing amateur radio transceivers and accessories crafted from low-cost hardware. I see this as good news and a positive sign that the future of amateur radio won’t be dictated by BIG companies.