I find this strange, are you seriously saying newbies, franchises, current owners aren't buying and particulary that those of us with portables aren't 'upgrading.'
Granted at my stage I wouldn't buy brand new, but if a decently priced used TM came up I would seriously consider it which would free up the current owner to buy new, and there must be others in the same situation.
I can't believe the future of TM's is in the balance because even 'we' portable users know that petrol driven machines are overall better.