What's it like, 25 years later?

I got a Novice license around 1974 and a General license around 1976 (can't remember the exact year). I was reasonably active on CW around 1978-1980, and worked something like 40 states with a 5-watt Heathkit HW-8 and a random length antenna (which was about all I could afford). I never really had very good SSB equipment (a cranky Galaxy V), and the bands seemed so crowded that I really wasn't all that successful with SSB. Eventually, I got busy with my career and family, and the old ham equipment has been sitting in boxes in the garage for 25 years or so.



I never did let my license lapse, though, it is still active.



I think about getting out the old equipment from time to time, but I am wondering....



Thinking about the HF bands....how is ham radio different now than 25 years ago? I know the transceiver technology has progressed a little since the days of my HW-8 and Galaxy V, but what I really mean is....how busy are the HF bands compared to 25 years ago? Fewer hams, less busy? Does anyone do CW any more?



Thanks in advance for your replies.