>One of the things I enjoyed most of all when skiing in Europe was the lack of lift lines! :o)

It is great if you can schedule non-vacation times. Otherwise it is more crowded now -
higher percentage of western europeans ski now and there is a markable influx of rich east europeans now.

>Next to that was the gondola ride to the Zugspitz--YIKES! My favorite place in Switzerland was Murren.... it's been over 25 years since I was there though so who knows what it looks like now....I wonder if it is still a small community?

Haven't been to Mürren itself, only Wengen in the area.
But the swiss are still pretty efficient in allowing not too many foreigners to own property.
Still, development is fueled by low interest rates and ever-growing prices, a bubble in the making,
but as the skiable area is a nearly closed resource still a not too silly bet.

regards

thomas