I dont know if the customers are getting smarter, but the companies are. They see an open connection as revenue lost (although thats not true). I am sure a few customers understand the technology but most don't or don't want to be bothered with it. If you go with Verizon DSL for example the router comes already protected with WEP and they provide the SSID and WEP key on a sticker attached to the router/modem. Given that most people are too lazy to change it and its all pre-configured for them they keep it. In my neighborhood (meaning the 6-10 houses who's routers I can "see") 8 of the 9 are protected, however only 1 other than mine are protected with WPA. WEP is a weak encryption, WPA is much stronger.