I don't think Burning Man could yet be called "appeals to everyone". Got a ways to go? There's still a core of weirdness that proves its still got something going on.
But this always happens in anything that starts out as counter-culture. Always.
First the freaks and the true believers invent something that appeals to other freaks and true believers. Then it gets bigger and becomes a mainstream business. Then eventually it crashes as it starts to feel sterile and commoditised, and it becomes more about management and money than expression.
Then the cycle starts again elsewhere - sometimes with the same people.
(Any similarity to software is intended. Although sadly I think we have too few real freaks and true believers in software. Certainly not too many.)
But this always happens in anything that starts out as counter-culture. Always.
First the freaks and the true believers invent something that appeals to other freaks and true believers. Then it gets bigger and becomes a mainstream business. Then eventually it crashes as it starts to feel sterile and commoditised, and it becomes more about management and money than expression.
Then the cycle starts again elsewhere - sometimes with the same people.
(Any similarity to software is intended. Although sadly I think we have too few real freaks and true believers in software. Certainly not too many.)