Agreed, it looks bleak. I've had this conversation with some of our state wildlife folks and they are also concerned we just aren't seeing the numbers for new hunters.
I like your option 2. I'm thinking of doing something similar. I've used my 6.5 PRC; but it's just enough recoil that it's easy to not see your misses. My plan is to drop a 6.5 cm ba into the same chassis and use it like a trainer.