I was just thinking about this subject last night, while trying to meet the deadline for three hunts at the same time. I think the market for hunts has become oversaturated. Too much good going on in a month, too little time to finish the few I select. I also keep finding out about new organizing groups that will add to the saturation.
Interestingly enough, not many newbies are aware about this aspect of SL. I have mentored a few already and none of them ever heard about the hunts. Needless to say, they were extremely happy to be able to acquire well done items -while visiting new places- and get rid of those ugly freebies we all stock on as newcomers.