Tom,
When we used to carry the Hammonds around - we stayed in the same room, 5 days a week for a few months at a time. Today, we do ALL one night stands, and 50 lbs just makes the work too exhausting. Sure, I can lift it, but try to navigate it in and out of car doors in crowded parking areas, up and down small elevators or through tiny kitchen hallways in big hotels.
Even with versitile dollys and carts - there is a very real disadvantage to lugging a "beast" of that size & weight around. Most rooms do not even have stages anymore, and we set up in corners, behind couches, or on wobbly platforms. NONE of which are really spacious enough for even my favorite old Rhodes setup.
It's a different world, my friend. If you want to work in today's music business - better be prepared to move easy, and often! We have to go where the music is needed, and that is not as easy or convienient as "back in the day".
I'm not really sure if I miss those days or not ...... people drank more, and danced more, but today's crowd is cool too. Just different. I sure could do without the everyday moving though!