I'm glad this is being said. A mission is NOT for everyone as much as local leaders will like to 'force' all the young men and women on missions it takes a certain kind of person to be on a mission!
Exactly what kind of certain person are you referring to? Local leaders will always admonish young men on missions because that's what the general leadership suggests. No one is sent to a mission at gun point.
I think it takes a lot of discernment and it is my experience that not every young priesthood holder is worthy of serving. Yeah sure, it is your "Priesthood duty" To serve but not everyone that is called is chosen, right?
Is it right to push an unwilling man into service? I think that is at the core of the issue. Another side of this issue is the attitude that the local congregation with regard to the men who were unwilling to serve or were not able to serve.
Push is a strong word, Admonish is a better term. Going on a mission is not a question of "Do you want to go or not", it is always you SHOULD go. Still, we have AGENCY. The issue though is for the local leaders, should they admonish? YES.
I'm no longer as young as I used to be so I'm out of touch with young minds today. Is there as much pressure to serve a mission now as there was a few decades ago?
There is always pressure because if 'x' person did it then you can too but a mission may not be for everyone and no one should be pressured.