I think the things you describe are just a symptom of Jazz's
eroding position, not the CAUSE of it.
The things you describe, Reed, often imply Jazz as a 'community'
that fosters and nurtures its players. Its THAT which we have
lost (or are losing).
And this is a political thing, 'the Music Business' assimilates
what it can use in its role as cultural narcotic, everything else
is ignored, or even aggresively repressed.
Jazz, in any sense that matters, is, as Miles said, just black
music. I would ammend that to say 'peoples' music.
If it doesn't die completely it won't be because we did or didn't
teach theory one way or another, it will be because a community
that lives by it lives or dies!
Its groups like this that have the potential to keep it alive.
Long Live Jazz!
Jack