My impression is that these companies are less invisible than ever thanks to the massive growth in private equity since Ross' era (the 50s-80s). I keep hearing stories about pest control businesses and HVAC companies that get inundated with messages from search funds.

My new pest control folks sold me partly by showing customer satisfaction numbers from independent third-party review sites. The sales guy made the point that their customer satisfaction had stayed high after their PE buyout, but my old service had gone downhill since their PE buyout.

I agree, nowadays is impossible to hide, but maybe they are still invisible to most people outside our bubble

Indeed, a good example Private Equity is (in the UK) buying out all the small vet practices or small groups of practices.

With the expected outcome when those vampires touch anything.