pdath: Is that because he hasn't run out of startup capital yet?
No.
pdath: Has he been in business more than 24 months?
Yes.
pdath: Perhaps he has some unique selling point that allows him to sell something for more than the typical market value.
No. In fact he's in a competitive market place with more than one WISP.
pdath: It is very hard to run a small ISP - and make a profit.
The ISP business is competitive where ever you are, but yes it's not easy.
pdath: There are very few small ISPs around. 20 years ago there were heaps of small ISPs around - but I don't need to tell you this. Your a veteran in this business.
This stuff comes in cycles and depends greatly on the need.
At present many of the people trained in the area are all well employed working for someone and don't feel the need to go out on their own.
20 years ago there wasn't big providers who you could work with. You either built your own or worked on the PSTN.
Today we've just gone through a round of consolidation. Eventually some of the smart people working in the new consolidated telco's will get sick of it and step out. But yes that is hard because the cost of entry is high a complex.
20 years ago we were all just making it up as we went and discovering how to do it.