We can ALL remember when....
I don't believe it's greed at the LQS level. The prices they are being charged to buy the fabric wholesale is much more than it was. Too many of the LQS shopkeepers have gone out of business because they couldn't make ends meet. As with lots of other things, we have a choice of whether or not to spend the money. And we DO want them to have enough helpers so we don't have to wait in long lines to have our fabrics cut or to pay for them. We DO want to buy our fabrics in light and bright places. All those things take money too. (BTW, I'm NOT a shopkeeper, nor am I related to any, but I'm missing those shops that have gone out of business so owners could take more lucrative jobs to help feed their families! Meanwhile, I'm working a lot from my stash because the nearest shops aren't convenient for a quick "run.")
p.s. Do you remember when you could buy a gallon of gas for 19 cents? $3.27 per gallon was the CHEAP price this weekend between Atlanta and St. Petersburg, FL.