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Well having been actively involved in astronomy for over 30 years now, I have seen a lot of things happen.
Equipment now is more affordable than ever. In the 80's I looked at get an SCT and it would have cost nearly 15K just for an 8". I built my own with some friends and a metal workshop and it still cost me over 5K with tracking.
I have seen societies work and self destruct in all manners. The advent of the internet means that you no longer have to be a member of a backward thinking society or one in which the elders (for want of a better word) consider that they know best. This is especially in regard to new advances. I have met so much resistence to new ideas of late I wonder whether it is worth sharing the knowledge in the first place. The newbies don't know one way or the other and trust the ill informed word of the elders and the elders don't read or have contact with the internet or think the ideas are bunkem. Not everyone mind you, but there are plenty. Funny being told that you are using the wrong scope for planetary imaging by some old nutter that should stay home and keep quiet.
So yes astronomy will change, but societies will always be there, amateurs are still contributing to the science, always have. And; the equipment will get more advanced and cheaper all the time. I wouldn't mind better that in 20 years time the entrance level scope will have tracking, electric focus and a cooling system.
It is a big hobby and there is lots of money in it, no need to worry about the future, astronomy will always be there.
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