I agree with you. Music rides always look better with the tops. I always kinda thought that was the purpose of a music ride, to have those tops with lights, tunnels. But I get shows trying to lighten the load.
Yeah, think its more about the tear down/set up and number of loads these days.
I know help was still an issue back in the 70s and 80s, but still there was more of it back then, and specially green help. For most spots we always had guys coming out wanting to work on set up or tear down, but I don't think that is the case as much now.
I haven't done it in a while, but as lazy as a lot of the younger folks are today, would not be surprised. Sadly, to many want to lay around, take drugs, and play video games or be on some cell phone rather than getting out there and working a little, and of course our government is not helping with so many hand outs.
Don't get me wrong, I think we should always help someone who is down to a point, but too many have learned how to use gov. hand outs as a regular source of income now.