It is much less risk (that seems to be everyone's main argument), But when you have to drop 150k or 120k to do it affectedly it becomes so not worth. + if you buy anything on the side of the map that close, it is the only thing you can do with it. at least if you get a coke house it could double as a scotch house.
The only way I could see getting people back into it is to lower crafting cost. raising the money you get would not work out will, or so i think.