Fuck yeah its worth it. Changed the battery of an old 1st gen SE and gave it to a young family member. Perfect first phone, and i gave a new life to for under 30€.
I think that is still happening. The enthusiasts create something, may it be highly technical and for the eggheads: if its good, people will flock to it and make it easier to use and give it a nice shiny frontend. No need for technical expertise from that point on.
Not since the blackout, no.