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Joseph
What we see NOW is assimilation by R/C. Their congregations are dying off. The growth is within the orthodox.
My point is that in time Mizrahi will dominate the culture of Israel. Just from when I was a child we have seen a shift of pronouncing Hebrew more like the Sephardi. Many believe that the Sephardi/Mizrahi are closer to what Judaism was in the 2nd Temple period. At least more like Rambam’s era.
Grey Matter
We are seeing more and more sons of Reform parents going to Day School. However a large part of the R community are so secular, to include intermarriage, that they will be assimilated.
As for Sephardim being east, yes and no. We have Sephardim who are in the UK, Spain, and the West. What is happening in Israel is not Sephardim but Mizrahi who are eastern. And they remaking Israel into a more middle eastern country. As that progresses much of Judaism will shift to being more Middle Eastern.
What is left of R/C/MO who have not either become Haredi or assimilated is that they will migrate towards Sephardi communities that are not as rigid as the Haredi world.
Technically an electric shaver is more like scissors than a razor. They cut rather than scrape.
The real issue is destroying the beard. That men should have a beard. the fuller the better.
One of the reasons that we are seeing a large number of Frum in and around Washington DC. Federal service is more open to the needs to be observant. State government would also be more open.
Likewise being a college professor or a farmer would give more flexibility.
Given the increase in population of the Frum communities vs the decrease of R/C, I expect to see the R/C/MO congregations being assimilated into the Sephardim. The Sephardim are orthodox but have the attitude of allowing their congregations practice as they see fit. We see this in Israel. Especially among the Mizrahi.
We are expecting to see changes in attitudes among Jews worldwide as the Mizrahim in Israel come to dominate the culture.
We have problems larger than just the Frum community. The US is facing a labor shortage. By 2025 half those working now will be retired. Thus there will be pressure to have more young people working.
I wonder how one can study Torah and never be a farmer. Why no Frum farming communities? There would be more than enough time to study Torah yet exposure to the Torah in action.
Also why not have young men become college professors? We have a shortage of US born PhDs. It would not be difficult to have a mix of secular and Torah as part of the program. Plus areas like food science would compliment Torah study.
Just some thoughts.