Old vs New in the cartographic world

Anyone can see that cartography and accordingly maps are a much different entity than they used to be. Even in my lifetime the technology and design of maps has changed dramatically. When I was a kid we didn't have GPS navigation pieces in our cars and today we do. I remember going on family vacations across the country and one of the first stops was always the AAA office to pick up countless maps and tour books. Well its been a while since my last family road trip but I can remember thos stacks of maps and books clearly....it was so much stuff. Thinking back on this though, it was not that long ago but that trip to AAA is now obsolete with the Internet and all of its virtual mapping capabilities. In many cases, for many people, the research doesn't even have to be done beforehand but rather it is there as you go on the dash of your car. This to me is a pretty amazing leap in technology for only about a 10 year time period. The ease of operation and convenience of the electronic maps is great, but to me, and perhaps other map geeks, there is much to say about paper maps. They are what I love to look at. I have a collection of them on my wall and I think they are amazing. Even though they are computer generated I see and appreciate the countless hours that were spent to produce such masterpieces. That being said, One can only imagine today what traditional cartographer had to do by hand as mapping pioneers. Hand tools and patience were their tools, two things that are becoming more and more unfamiliar in the world. Not only do modern humans expect things to be done at the drop of a hat, but skilled trades are disappearing with time. I'm talking about the skilled trades that require someone to sit down and create something with human hands. Quite a shame actually. However, today technology is our vessel in almost every field including cartography. I don't believe their is any market for traditional mappers and actually we can do so much electronically that their won't ever be again. Mapping is now a part of the future. It has entered the realm of technology and cannot be reversed, only improved and further advanced. It is my strong feeling though that we need to protect and preserve our traditional maps as priceless historical relics. They should be framed and analyzed and appreciated by anyone with an eye for skill and pure craftsmanship.