Welcome!
"...given the speed of technological change in the industry right now, I'm not convinced that it's all newer members who are creating the "sloppiness"... With a bit of experience one would know "sloppiness" is a problem the industry has dealt with forever. "An inexperienced agent with savvy Web skills"? They bring no real estate knowledge or experience to the transaction. How much value does that have? "And it's quite possible that older members who may not be as savvy with new communications devices and Internet are viewed as sloppy by younger consumers." Younger consumers may view older members as "sloppy" because lack of technological skills, and if the older agent does not develop technological skills they will be gone. I believe just as many inexperienced, impatient, younger agents will leave as will older agents. 'Why stay and fight another downturn?' Jessica, downturns happen, the cycle will continue, the market will pick up again. You don't fight it. Experience and patience will prevail. Older agents will retire, older teachers will retire, older CEOs will retire, older writers will retire, older lawyers will retire, older doctors will retire... It is not because of advances in their industry that older workers retire, it's because they can. I look forward to the day I can retire. You will learn this as you get older.