I'm writing this post from the point of view of someone who doesn't have any kind of a local scene. My opinion on proxies is that if I don't have the cards then I don't have the cards. I would not use proxies. This atitude would generally mean that I would be playing with a substandard deck. Now my question is, How many copies of the power cards are actually in existence? Does anyone know? People want to grow the format, but how big can the format get if the cards you "need" to be competive are limited? Example, let's use the power 9 and say worldwide there are 25,000 of each card, and say worldwide there are 50,000 people who want to get into vintage. Let's say about 50%  of those copies are in the hands of the players who will actually use them and not sell them. That would leave 10 to 15,000 copies for those 50,000 people and what are the players who can't get them  supposed to do?  Hopefully, someone understands my point.  I came to this forum because on the magicthegathering.com forums the atitude I got when I asked about decent substitutions for the power cards or even the staples until I can get those was "take it to casual" Great, huh. Thankfully I haven't had that happen here yet. But, to reference my point, It was said earlier in the thread that the power 9 defines the format, but what If everyone who wants the power cards can't get them? I do like Steve's budget deck articles, they illustrate that you don't need the power cards to put a deck together.
Do I have the answer to solve the problems? No.
One suggestion is for TO's to eliminate proxies entirely and modify the prize structure. Reduce the value of the top prizes, so that prizes can be awarded farther down the list. Save the power cards for the big events. Another suggestion, two prize structures, one for proxies, one for no proxies, in the no proxy, if you have the card for your place, you receive cash instead. Just my 2 cents. I'm just a player who wants to get involved and doesn't want vintage to die before that happens.

Hello everyone. My name's Eric, I've played Magic on and off since Revised, just casual, my work schedule has never allowed me to play in tounaments. I live in Erie, Pa. and anything besides T2 doesn't exist around here.  I would like to try some Vintage tourneys, but they just don't exist in my ares, at least not that I can find, and I don't have a car, so travelling is out. Basically, what I'm trying set up is a ride with someone who might be heading my way while they're going to a tourney. Gas money not a problem. But, my wife might want to come along because she plays too. I'm still working on getting a couple decks together, so this would be down the road. If anyone would be able to help, please let me know.