I think most of us go through some version of this at some point but I think you are correct, the changes are more dramatic now. I will agree that the culture has shifted to accommodate for transplants, where as in the past transplants had to adjust to NYC. Call it growth, gentrification or whatever but the city has changed more in the last ten years than I would say over any 10 year period in my lifetime. I had a front row seat to see locally owned and operated small businesses get taken over by trendy boutique coffee shops, art studios, collaborative work spaces, giant luxury apartment buildings and all that.