The current state of amateur radio isn't any different than it was when I started. In Southern California, the neatest thing I've found is a linked 440 system providing handheld coverage pretty much anywhere. But it's still out-done by cellular if you want instant phone communications. Packet has been eclipsed by the Internet and its recent popularity. A few years ago, wireless computer communications were great, but the two need to be tied together, because no one is on packet anymore.
Satellite stations are still way to expensive.
Over the past year, my radio has saw more use during a disaster drill than any other time. This is where I think amateur radio still can hold its own. But these services are becoming more and more reliable in themselves. They, too, are radio based. Not for long.