Well, I'll put my 10 cents in.....
What I see that these shows have done, other than get people interested and/or raise the prices because of supply and demand, is that people who have a half decent or even great oringinal 81, or 44, or 39 etc.. are "restoring" the machines themselves and passing them off as restored, when in reality what they have done is devalued the machine. A car, or pop machine, signs etc are only original once.
THe way I see it is these shows have sped up the process of the original condition machines becoming low or non existent. Sure, on the flip side these shows have saved a few machines, where Billy Bob the farmer might of had a 81 sitting outside rusting away until his grandson told him he could sell it for $$$ before it becomes rusted out.
If only these shows showed the benifits of keeping some machines original. It just seems like everyone wants it restored.
I own restored and original machcines, and with the restored ones, they look awesome, I wont lie, but with the originals, they have character, and I look at the nicks and dings and wonder how they happened or who did them, and where are they now etc.....
So, will this hobby have it's ups and downs with regards to price? Sure it will, like everything else.
YET, unlike other things, they dont make 81 RT's anymore. They still make Dodge Chargers.