JC,

I don't think I could say what you quoted! You gotta have kids to quote Yosemite Sam!
Wayne ran hard. He was either on the road filmin hunts for advertising or on the road doing shows all over god's green USA. I got to work for him a day here or there in our region before his one buddy started doing shows Full time with him.
Wayne would do H-burg,PA show for 10 days from 10 AM to 8PM and never leave his booth. No food. No potty calls..then pack up and head to another show. I dunno how many years he did that.
I do not begrudge him an easier life, but like you, I am concerned for the future of the stand and where the heck to buy any NT/Rapid Rails since Ameristep didn't seem to be marketing it at the H-burg show! Other Ameristep stuff was there, but not Waynes stuff. :mad:
On the other hand, JC, maybe, just maybe, it will become more accessible. Wayne, mfg the stuff himself, never had enough margin to wholesale to dealers. If they start compromising quality, I don't think Wayne would stay on board long... not after what he put into that company, it's reputation and how hard he worked to build the business.
Being he ran his own "pole barn" manufacturing company and was away so much, there were constant issues w/ production that cost him $$$$. I just hope his legacy lives on.
I found that stand one year when he had the round swivel seat with the big NT on it. I was broke. Went several years at that H-burg show till I found them again with square swivel seats. I was still broke, but bought the Rapid Rails in their curved format (had the straight ones but the new design was incredible improvement) and the Patriot stand. Next year, I bought the Outfitter stand... then his deer cart. Then another ladder.
I even had someone trade me a 4-pack they didn't use and instead of keeping it, I sold it for what I paid for it! :eek: Talk about hindsight! :(
If you hear anything, please let me know or post here on the Tradgang. I will do the same. I called Wayn'es house once, but predictably, nobody was home. I didn't get to call back yet!