[BR3W CITY]

I largely agree except for a few points;
There isn't a lack of apprentices, there is a lack of shops wanting to hire apprentices. Kids don't think there is a future in the skilled work, largely because shop owners just used them up. The only "successful" younger people I ever met in hot rodding ALL quit there first shop to start one, or maybe build a resume to work for a bigger shop. I never see the older guys pass a shop, or the REAL skills. Sure, they'll have you sand 10hrs a day...yet resist teaching you metal forming, since you'll become competition for their aging shop.
Those same shop owners usually hire illegals to sand, pay them 7$ an hour, and fire them when anyone asks questions or they want health insurance.

On the other note; even 75-8500$ for a paint job isn't the top end of the market anymore. Sema/Riddler type cars have well over 20k into paint, including painting goofy stuff like brackets you'll never see.