i totally agree with you but it's hard to become a rasta when you're born and raised as an indio. doobie nights and xaymaca syndrome? hmm... last time i checked doobie nights is just a radio show/album and xaymaca is just a place for gathering and good music, same goes for chakik's and island riddims 
most of the wolves in sheeps clothing nowadays are not musicians (although some are, at least i know one) but prods who offer a good helping hand but don't give the musicians the right pay after the album is produced, in short - soloista/gustong yumaman agad! i enjoy playing reggae music every single time i get up on stage, but that doesn't make me a rasta or an idiot trying to be a rasta. the world is opening-up to new things, iba nung panahon ni bob marley sa panahon ngayon. music has changed in style, groove and even in concept (like the reggae-hardcore bands which i personally don't dig) which is a good thing because at least musicians are coming up with new ideas. it's all up to us listeners if we would support these artists because if nobody listens anymore they'd most probably shut up
Now, whoever said that you had to be a Rasta to enjoy listening to, and playing Reggae? I think you should brush up a little more on your comprehension skills before you start firing away my friend. Faith and music have no boundaries. It sees no race, no color, no creed. Don't use it as an excuse to cover up for your lack of understanding.
As for your other insinuations, I suggest you start naming names and backing them up with facts and hard evidence. Otherwise, all these would be reduced to the level of plain gossip and hearsay.
I would like to dwell more on this topic but I really don't think this is the proper forum for such, so I suggest you open a new thread and I will divulge all the dirt you can ever imagine. Believe me, once I open my mouth, the sh*t's gonna hit the fan so hard you had better run for cover.
For now, all I can say is, if it weren't for producers who go out of their way to get these bands heard, most (if not all) of them would still be playing for peanuts in some uncharted hole-in-the-wall bar along with dozens of other bands who will eventually get lost in obscurity. I bet you don't even have the slightest idea as to how much a producer spends before an album deal gets approved ... and that comes out of his or her own pocket. Believe me, its more money than you've ever made in your life.
Fact is - and you can ask any band who's been in the recording business for years - there is really no money to be made by making an album as most of the expenses go into production. Its the gigs you get when the album is released that's financially rewarding. Well, that's if you know how to play your cards right. Bottomline is, if you don't have a long-term goal and you think you know this business more than we do, then go right ahead and make your mark. Mahirap magmarunong kung di mo naman talaga alam ang puno't dulo ng bawa't bagay.
As far as new ideas being injected into the genre are concerned, I'm all for it for as long as the people concerned know what they're doing. Therefore, it would be wise to know the rule before you start breaking it. Sad to say, all these so called "new" ideas that you're referring to have all been done before and sounded a whole lot better back then when musicians had more heart and conviction. The problem is you all think it's new because your musical history only goes back to a certain period. Try digging deeper and you'll understand what I'm talking about.
