Jim Bick,
Carrying double would reduce the "caddy premium" if they didn't charge double when they carried double. That's what they were doing when I was in Ireland last year, and some places said the caddies refused to go out carrying single! Needless to say I carried my bag most of the time there, which I prefer anyway because I don't benefit from having them perform the physical act of carrying, and only get a caddy who is useful and/or entertaining about 10% of the time.
What Jason, Kyle and other former caddies are missing is that you guys probably DID provide superior service. You love golf, or you wouldn't be on this board talking about caddies instead of using the Internet for the purpose it was invented, porn
Most caddies aren't like you guys, which is why there are plenty of us who don't think they are worth anything like the rates they get, and care for mandatory caddie courses even less than we care for mandatory carts.
If you couple the very high (for their age) and in cash wages caddies can make today with the ability to set your own hours to some extent and work outside, you get a lot of kids caddying who are probably only doing it for the money. If it paid a smaller, and what many of us feel is more appropriate wage, it'd only attract the kids who really loved the game, and for whom the playing privileges on some top quality courses was the extra compensation they feel makes it worth it versus getting the same wages for a job flipping burgers at Mickey-D's.
If there really was a difference between junior and senior caddies at most places other than how long you have been there, so you could pay a minimum wage for a guy who is essentially a well behaved bag carrier, up to paying whatever for someone who could make the most demanding plus handicap prima donna happy. If caddies were rated with feedback like Ebay sellers are, you'd know whether you want to pay $25 to some guy to cart your clubs around or $100+ to a guy who could impress even cynical bastards like me with his knowledge and ability.
If I am lucky enough to play some dream course like ANGC, CPC or PV you can damn well bet I'd be happy to spend on a really top flight caddie, because a really good caddie could make the experience even better. But given that there is no way to tell what you are going to get, unless my host knew the caddies and could make sure I got a really good one, then if it were left up to me I'd carry my own bag and hope there was a Strokesaver booklet for sale in the clubhouse!