Herblore wasnt profitable before the GE trust me, I got 80 quite a while before it. If it ever was profitable, it was a looong time ago. Anyway, the oldest skill I remember training to a decent lvl, was 70 crafting. Was in the top 2k back then (was not long after rsc changed to rs2). And trust me, I did loose money by doing it (silver bars). But for some skills, I think the change has come with the skillcapes. I dont really remember, but I think cooking and fletching were all profitable before the skillcapes. And if it already was unprofitable took cook before skillcapes, then it will only have gotten worse cause of them. But like bauke said, it goes gradually. well it was profitable when pking in wild was still around