Not certain which "attitude" you are referencing. It's simply a statement. If one doesn't like the rules of any sport and think they are "dumb", then the perfect solution is to not participate.
I'm very fortunate. I can participate in 6 to 7 IDPA matches per month (year round) within a 35 minute drive from my home. There are a couple more I can participate in within 2 hours of my home. I participate in as many of them as I can.
There are even more USPSA matches within the same driving distances of my home, but I seldom, if ever participate in them, as I don't enjoy that sport as much as IDPA. That doesn't mean USPSA has stupid rules . . . . it's just what I want to do with my free time.
I'm convinced that is is highly counter-productive to the shooting world to continuously criticize ANY shooting sport today. I'm all for encouraging improvement in the rules and allowing anyone to share their opinions. But pointing out how your chosen sport is "dumb", or criticizing the sport because the rules don't match the rules of your favorite sport is hardly the conduit to achieve change.
There are plenty of enemies of the shooting sports out there. I prefer to not be among them.
It may not apply to all areas of the country or the world, but "shrinking participation" is absolutely, positively not happening in my part of the country.