re: Has anyone here ever thought about enrolling in the Sonoran Desert Institute?

I agree there's a shortage of local GS's that can: properly fit & grind a recoil pad, replace the internal seals on your 1975 Benjamin pump pellet rifle, fix the firing pin spring on an H&R single shot, and replace the shell carrier group on your favorite Rem 870 shotgun; general repair work stuff. There is definitely no shortage of custom rifle builders. Some are very skilled craftsman who build super accurate rifles. Many other newer GS's / rifle builders decided to enter the field after A&E broadcast their reality show "Sons Of Guns". Around 2013, everybody wanted to open a shop like RJF and build AR Tacti-cool guns.

I worked in a Gun Shop and did basic gunsmithing repairs to put myself through college (early 1990's). Parts seemed easily accessible from Numrich Gun Parts, or from the hundreds of "part guns" that were in the back. IMO, finding replacement firearm parts today is getting harder and harder. Additionally, finding a GS to do a high-lustre blue finish (using salt and hot bluing tanks) on a family heirloom is near impossible. Most people will send their stuff to Turnbull who is arguably the best in the business, and not cheap.