I get posts from The Creative Photographer on a semi regular basis. Some good info, other times rather basic. That being said, I thought those of us here that are into b&w might find this interesting. The link following is the latest I've received.

If nothing else I hope it will encourage those who aren't into b&w to try it as this medium offers a perspective of images not found in color. Learning to see a potential image in b&w, and in learning the zone system -gradations of white to black, etc., will aid in compositions in color. It literally changes the way you look for/ at images.

Lots of very good and talented b&w photographers here. I'm always looking forward to finding methods/ ideas that help, or in aiding me to critique my own efforts. Always wanting to learn. It offers the opportunity to sign up for updates and notifications of current posts if desired.
Best to all in the coming New Year.

https://www.creative-photographer.com/black-and-white-photography/

...an interesting side (or maybe main) issue would be comparing cost of being a "serious" amateur from 50 years ago to today, over the course of a year. (You might even have some stuff (pictures, equipment, lab stuff) from that time period to illustrate that would encompass "developing and printing" of photos in the mix.
Today, once you have a good camera and a lens, your only further investment is an editing program (I would believe that nearly every home has a computer for other uses).
With the 1970 technology, you had to send the film away (or, if luck enough to live close to a drug store take it there to have it developed) the wait for the prints to come back.
If you did it yourself, you could rather quickly develop black & white film, but needed time and chemicals and a dark room, and the cost of an enlarger and paper and chemicals for that.
If you wanted to shoot (and process) in color, there was also the cost for consistent temperature equipment for the film and print developers as well as the chemicals, enlarger and paper.
Today, there is instant gratification/ability (chimping) on the scene to see what you got and ability to immediately change settings.
AND, OH YES...today you are not being limited to 36 shots per roll of film. Now, you can do 'bursts' of almost limitless shots.
Computer editing is much wider-ranging than the very limited 'creativity' in the developing/printing process of film. Today you got editing programs which can drastically widen the exposure/color elements as well as edit out the encroaching telephone pole.
Then you have cropping -- and seeing it all in regular (not negative) viewing.
The ability to share photos, even by internet to a dedicated frame anywhere in the world, is there today. In 1970, again you relied on the mail to show grandma how the kids have grown.
And, if you throw in drone cameras, adaptors for telescopes, remote (game) cameras and even "Ring" doorbell cameras, you get a wider range of what "photography" means today.

Oh, and did I mention video built into most digital cameras today? No more grainy pictures of "Uncle Ned" waving at the camera in 16 fps, and waiting for film to come back, then editing, then viewing, but only when everyone was gathered because you had to set up the screen and projector. Of course, on the bright side, there likely would have been popcorn, too...

And, today, you can have it included with your personal phone/notebook/computer, too.

Has any other "everyman" endeavor expanded so widely????

All that and probably cheaper today when compared to "1970 equivalent dollars."

Did you ever think that people post flowers there because it's a popular category...what you might think should go there might not suit other members...we can then lobby to get your favourites removed to another new section.
I enjoy looking at the Photo Gallery because it has a wide variety of subjects, it's called photography...I, along with many others, was quite miffed when they removed birds from that section...