to stop doing encores and, like you said, more and more bands are following suit.. Maybe 50-50 as far as bands that do encores vs bands that don't - at least in my experience.. I will say that with the majority of bands, once they finish their "last song" the majority of people at the shows start leaving.. sometimes they got it right - sometimes they either run back in for the encore or just keep walking and don't care..
I HATE that, cuz I've always been a big fan of encores - although its kind of goofy to NOT play your big hits and then play them as encores..
With Rush, yeah it was weird that he did a drum solo as an encore.. But, he's one of the few guys that could pull that off..
Friendship is like peeing your pants.. Everybody can see it, but only you can feel the warmth..