Translators might make business sense for those AM stations trying to maintain relevance, outside of large cities.

However, in cities where FM is fully allocated, I don't see their financially viability, considering their limitations. What other waning industries have seen an inrush of activity like this? When the transition from horses to automobiles took hold, there was no influx of investors jumping into buggy whip manufacturing. Alright maybe malls went through a phase where big stores left and the little crappy discount stores moved in, before they also left and the bulldozers arrived. Maybe that's the metaphor here.

Joking aside, I think the translator scene will fade as more people realize they can't turn a profit with them.