Will Traditional Publishing Become The Niche Market?

Nathan Bransford's vote-post and everyone's replies got me thinking about the future of traditional publishing.  Writer after writer said either:

 

1) They want to pursue traditional publishing and are considering self-publishing if traditional publishing doesn't work.

or

2) They plan on bypassing traditional publishing.

or

3) They need help from a publisher to get to their audience and make their book the best it can be. 

 

Since anyone can brand themselves in any genre for self-publishing maybe the way publishers will go are "niche" markets.  Maybe the big five will coincide with Romance, Fantasy, Noir/Thriller, Non-Fiction and Technical.  

Traditional publishers might see self-published authors as a “test” market.  I’ve been hearing it’s all about platform and sales for the self-made authors.  I can see traditional publishing making their money because they have the power to take an author world-wide.  Yet all of this is possible without traditional publishing.  I think it depends on one thing:

 

What kind of professionals do you want around you? 

 

Do you want someone with a reputation of a traditional publisher that’s been tried and tested?  Or are you willing to do the re-search about the people you surround yourself with to produce your book?  Do want to build your team?  Or have one ready and waiting?

 

The way it looks, traditional publishers might want to wait for the self-publishers to build their readership then take them aboard.  It’s a great way to prove an author knows how to sell.  Still a team working with you OR for you is the only separation I can see from way over here.  I’m just spouting off—this whole thing is just a mystery until I claw deeper into the mind of the beast.