Is classic chess over ?
No. The game is changing. That's all.
I used to try to play long games but sitting around waiting for someone to play who may have already quit is extremely frustrating.
There has to be a way to make certain that people are still actively engaged. I don't care if they go refill their coffee cup but watching games time out ended it for me.
Are you asking about top level, or in general? Influx of players will naturally lead to more people playing otb, tournaments are much more popular then 10 years ago basically everywhere in the world with new players constantly popping up.
Also has there ever been many people playing 30min online? People have always played shorter time controls online, it has nothing to do with "decline of classical chess"
The decline of classical chess is in effect so long as no tournament organizers use it for time control. Just recently the Gashimov Memorial finished and it used to be classical. It used to have commentary in English.
I also remember a time when commentators would just turn on a cam and do commentary. In particular, Keti and another Georgian. Now, they want bimbos broadcasting to get more viewers. They don't care about chess content, just a lot of fast action. Money Money Money.
Carlsen, Nakamura, and even Kasparov are now has beens. They have no use in modern chess. India might be the ones holding the torch. There is no way these young Indians like Gukesh and Divya win because they neglect classical. I say, put your money into classical boycott this Carlsen crap.