I haven't read much recently, so from a writer's perspective, I agree. There's been so many NZ fics done, that they've pretty much been done to death. Plus, there isn't any more filming, therefore no more fodder for fics. There's a lot more non-LOTR press now (well obviously not at this particular moment, with ROTK and all!), and therefore more non-LOTR related fodder. Also a maturing of writers?