I have bought tax liens for over 10 years in SC.I wouldn't advise you sign up for a class.I would recommend you buy some books off amazon, read all the free info on the web and here on bigger pockets.A mentor in your area that you could buy lunch for could give you a crash course over lunch.Go to an auction and observe the first year and get a feel for the auction and you should have no problem finding someone there that would be willing to help you out.

This is an excellent place to learn, observe and participate.

Thanks for the observation.

Another sad thing observed.

Go to eviction court to observe so it isn't a mystery to you.

There have been recessions and bear markets.Yes, I would agree that the arrival of a flu pandemic on our shores was likely not the method by which the casual observer or even seasoned economists would have guessed as the trigger for our current economic situation.

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

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

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?

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?