
Good questions!
more and more people will listen to prog?To be honest, yes I think so. People who like it will have children who might like it, just need to be woken up (happened with me).
And of course we keep spreading the word. I don't think the total number will decrease, only increase, not very fast, but that's not a problem.
there will be a growing difference in the quality of prog?I think so. Some progressive bands try to play like bands from the 70's. Some succeed (Spock's Beard, The Flowerkings (although I don't like them that much)) and some fail because they sound like too much chords in which they play solos, and they play to much solos... (Man, that sounded stupid...)
Then there's the true progressive bands in the truest sense of the word. Bands like Frost, Pure Reason Revolution, Porcupine Tree and Dream Theater. This is arguable I know, please don't bite. So to me the failing bands should stop making progressive (70's music) music and try "Progressive" music.
there will be a growing difference between American, British, Scandinavian, German, (and I better include Dutch) prog?Same with Appelmoes?? here! But, it looks as if Scandinavian, German and other not American or British prog are rising.
I was pleasantly surprised with bands like Satellite (Poland), A.C.T (Sweden), Neuschwanstein (Germany), RPWL (Germany) and a lot more I don't remember.
we'll have excellent prog sung in German, French, Swedish, Hebrew, and other languages?Same with Appelmoes?? again. I prefer English, or maybe German 'cause I understand that. Kaipa's an exception (Sweden) amazing music (speaking of their first three albums) sung in Swedish.
prog groups will deal increasingly with environmental and animal rights issues?Errmmm... don't know... They did already (don't know about animal rights though, they do about human rights!).
with metaphysical and religious issues?Possibly. Since Neal Morse's convertion. And Dream Theater seems to have more and more religious lyrics. (Root Of All Evil, I Walk Beside You, and many more)
Also Threshold. The keyboard player is a christian and you can see it because of the lyrics. Brilliant christian lyrics. I find them brilliant 'cause I'm a christian myself, so I encourage bands becoming christian! Although don't turn into silly christian bands, most suck indeed.
we'll see more older people making excellent prog?Yup, people grow older, that's normal. If they keep playing music, then the music will be made by older people.
It's the young people that is more unlikely to make excellent prog. But they do, I think (Pure Reason Revolution, they're not really that old are they?) etc etc.
prog will be used more for educational purposes?That would be cool and very interesting, since I think Prog makes you intelligent!
for therapeutical purposes?I don't know, but if it's true what Appelmoes?? says, than I agree with him.
Arena will win the European Schlagerfestival one fine day?Definately!