These are just some of my observations.

Including being able to observe the other house when you or your people are at one of the houses.  

Based on observed changes, are these folks dinosaurs destined for near-term extinction or will there always be a big part of the RE industry operating this way?

Go and observe but don't pay for whatever they are selling you; and they will be trying to sell you something.

Well your question isn't simple, because if it is, there will already people giving simple guides to be a successful real estate investor on the internet but there are none except for all the "gurus".I understand that you want to learn to invest but based on my observation of your posts, you do not fit to be a investor, especially in real estate.You say a lot of things like "I mean can anyone out there just inbox me and help me out because there's so much to read and it seems it never ends" just because there you are flat broke?

In my observation, the "investors dream" of abundant opportunity was 2009 - 2011.

I don't remember what started the conversation but after explaining my situation and her knowing of two of my projects she asked a simple question. " what are you going to do when you rehab so many you run out of tenants" Food for thought, without serious economic growth in the region we could literally improve our way to lower returns.Above is just my personal concerns and observations.

I was attempting to be cautious in indicating I'm not in this niche (flipping and utilizing HM) and am sharing 2nd hand observations.  

My general investing and business observations are that people have very few issues when others are in control or out of the area when the market is great and making money, but what happens when the market turns or something goes wrong?

They can vouch for each others observations.