I have worked with photographers who used to spend tens of thousands a year on film, and hours of precious time making drum scans, for magazine ads and catalogues that run no larger than 8x10. Makes a digital back seem cheap. I on the other hand, sell a couple of prints a year. Makes a digital back seem impossible to afford.

But I don't see film dying. It is ageing gracefully. In 20 years, we are going to be gurus in a world where most photographers have never used film, except once in thier "alt processes" class. Digital looks different, has a different work flow, advantages/disadvantages, etc. It leads to a different kind of image. We film shooters are going to be deemed "high-art" photographers.