I agree with everything you're saying, but I do worry about how we get 'round the youth development issue. Clubs like ourselves seem to be in a position where young guys showing any talent will be snatched by bigger vultures for negligible financial compensation before they've had a chance to contribute much, or anything, to our first team. The ones we're left with probably won't make it at our level.
If we don't get the playing benefit from our youths, we need to get the pay up benefit, but getting guys like Johnston or Miller to sign 5 year deals obviously isn't going to happen.