David, if you think that eTargets represent more a finicky, high maintenance, heavy and awkward system than manual marking, you are comparing use of the the wrong system.
A properly set up system, supplied and installed in full by the supplier works easily as well, with probably less trouble than arranging for paid markers, getting them to turn up each week (not missing a week because they slept in, or it's too hot, or rain is forecast) then arranging payment. The number of targets you run might be restricted by how many markers you can get to turn up. If you use competitor marking, then you have to shoot in shifts, arrange to get people back and forth to the butts (wait for that one guy that keeps going AWOL when it's time to go down and mark). It takes a lot of time out of the day. Then start thinking about all the older guys and girls or the young kids who find it hard to pull targets, the new people that really just want to shoot and not do the hard stuff. Manual targets are an obstruction to many getting into or staying in the sport.
And if you think manual targets are great, I beg to differ. I have seen loose and floppy frames, targets that wouldn't go up and down during the shoot, poor quality and slow markers with constant mistakes. You hear more comments like "examine target x" "challenge the value on target y", "range officer, can someone wake up the scorer on target z" when shooting on manuals than you hear "range officer, my shot didn't show up" IF USING A QUALITY SYSTEM designed and built for comp use.
Again, the biggest hurdle I think in the US, is the comparing of low cost personal style open mike target systems, screwed onto frames built by the local club, with computer systems installed by people of varying technical skills to manual targets, and thinking that this is going to meet the demands of a sport with such a high level of accuracy by the competitor.
There's are several closed acoustic chamber systems in use around the world that are available, and there must be some locally made versions, it's not that hard for someone to setup and build them properly.
If you used closed chamber targets in more places, there is a higher level of accuracy, and you would the have more faith and confidence in the systems than you currently have.