Hmm, interesting comments! I think the main thing about the surge in MP3 is that the men in suits have latched onto this whole "get your music heard by millions" idea and, unfortunatley, too many people are falling for it which means it is increasingly hard to find GOOD music.
I am actually starting to find I am sticking to producers I know and respect and have lost some of the excitement I once had for sites offering unsigned material as I know I will have to sit and listen through hours of Sash! or DJ Sammy type bollox under the catagory of "Techno" or "Trance" just to find one good piece of music.
So maybe yes, the net is killing techno but that is just one avenue of just one persons experience.
I guess it is the same as the whole advertising boom reaching overkill on the internet, and I think the whole idea of MP3 will reach saturation point and the hype will just build, explode and die, leaving a residue of hopefuly, half decent music!