In reply to Ramblin dave:
>.... I'm not sure that it's a symptom of a general lack of interest in cheap and basic accommodation so much as a lack of interest in what was, for quite a long time, cheap and basic accommodation with a membership requirement, a no-alcohol policy, strictly enforced lights-out time, single-sex dormitories, loads of rules and regulations, and the danger of little-Hitler wardens.
Putting it that way, and viewed through today's lens of equality & diversity/valuing everyone's opinion, the YHA then seems the epitome of control freakery that has sensibly been discarded.
Undoubtedly there were little- Hitler wardens, but generally the rules such as no alcohol, lights out, and single sex dorms were more conducive to getting a night's sleep. The societal drive to freedom from rules implies an optimistic view of human behaviour, that people with rights will also accept their responsibilities. I'd agree that this is what has finished off the hostelling associations. But perhaps those same rules could've helped fashion habit forming behaviours beneficial to communal living (I can almost hear the indignation of others as I finish that last sentence- 'we don't need rules'!).. Most of us would agree that bothies are a good thing- we support them. But, if Streapadair's figure of MBA membership is an indication, by and large, we only support them in a Facebook 'like' sort of way, i.e. doing bugger all but take, and when rubbish is left, pointing the finger at 'Neds'. 'We' wouldn't do that. But who are the 'we'? A disparate group of individuals, most only vaguely aware that someone else is translating words into action so that we can continue to enjoy bothies.
The independent hostels have received praise for the way they've refashioned 'hostelling' - but they're not all good, and have a share of eccentric wardens- e.g. Jeremy Inglis Hostel/ Oban, Gerry Howkins/Achnashellach.