It stands to reason that to do all together is impossible. During certain time I gave up a some activity and some other ones I limited to minimum. Very big rise of comets observations came not long ago. It is very simply. I have access to the biggest telescope.
Communication is very quick by internet.
In the present I can observe new comet etc. Third great reason is amount new stars catalogues. Once I had accessible the SAO catalog only with stars to 9th and 10th magnitudes. In the present the situation is more better. Catalogues TI, GSC, HIP, USNO have reach in magnitudes up over bounds of usual visual observations.