"Put another way, the people who in the past would not have considered blind targets may be forced to do so,..."

I respect your opinion, but strongly disagree.  I think they will do as they have always done.  That is, maintain production by buying competitors and smaller producers, at least in the short- to mid-term.  I say that because the larger and older the company, the less appitite they have for risk (especially in older, industrial-type companies).

As you implied, time will tell.

VP