Here's a shot from outside the box. You'll all hate it, but I think thats because your perspective is too narrow, and mine isn't...
1. The emerging format in the states isn't X-ball, or 5-man, its SPPL, or CSPPL, depending on your location.
2. The SPPL is the Scenario Paintball Players League. Its gaining teams and gaining recognition, and is full of people that don't need sponsorship, but are sponsored anyway, because people actually want to give them things.
3. In the UK there is an incredibly healthy site business. For example, WDP's field in Birmingham is 50% up on thier best ever year. Thats about 35,000-40,000 players this year if my memory serves.
4. Jay has identifies 2 things above that have to happen in order to grow competition paintball. He's definitely right.
So, if we look at all of the above, the smartest thing would be for the UK to have a total change of direction, promote a 'UKSPPL' and garner much more support from the fields and field owners. There is a LOAD of gear to be sold to SPPL-type teams, and they can still use it down thier local field without looking like a nonce (in fact, they will look totally scary, which is rad). If you want to get people to play Sup-air, then try to get them playing competition woodsball first. Its a stepping stone, but better than that, its a stepping stone that revitalises the UK industry through sales of rec equipment, infusing much needed cash into stores so that they can support thier store/field teams better, and be more succesful in thier own businesses.
Once people are playing tournament rec-ball, its up to you lot to convince them that playing in a bouncy castle is more fun. You may not succeed, but the thing is, if you don't, there is still somewhere for those players to play and thrive. They stay in the game because they have an option to play with like-minded people in a competitive environment, without giving up what they originally fell in love with about the game.
If you can do that, then you will have the start of a true 'revolution'. How long it will take to revolve back around to a resurgence of UK Pro teams I couldn't say, but in the mean-time at least there will be a much needed influx of players that progress on to buying equipment in the industry, which is the life-blood of the game.
The industry has to adapt to survive. This is the way it is happening in North America, where 85% of what is sold is Scenario Paintball gear. The UK is generally 2 years behind the US, but it doesn't have to be.
Like I said, out of the box, but I like this idea more than running lower cost events for the existing players because they are struggling to afford the game. If people can't afford paintball now, its not because its too expensive, its because they don't have enough money. 2 different things entirely.