When a forum starts up, it has a small readership and makes very little money off of advertising, but also pays very little (comparatively) in bandwidth and space charges to the hosting company. As the forum grows, eventually (if it gets big enough) the hosting charges start to really sky rocket, but advertising revenue really picks up as well, it can be a real balancing act between these two forces.
The fact of the matter is - the users never have been and never will be "in charge" of a forum like this. The corporate parent - AutoForums - and their hired administrators are in charge and they are trying to maximize profit while maintaining the growing user base - again the balancing act. Just like any business, they have every right to try and generate as much revenue as possible, after all it is how they make their "beer money"!
The administrators here do seem (IMO) to respond to
some of the readership input, although they are not required to actually follow any suggestions. The leverage we - as readers - have is to quit reading their posts, thus reducing their traffic and reducing their advertising revenue. That is why they try to keep us happy enough to keep coming back, but still squeeze out as much profit as possible, and I can't honestly blame them for doing so. After all, it's a business, not a charity.
The difference between paid and standard accounts is like the difference between cable TV and broadcast. Broadcast is free, but lots of ads, cable costs more but has a lot fewer ads, although few cable channels have zero ads anymore.
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'07 Sun Fusion Yellow FJC, 17" Alloy wheels and stock Dunlops, Predator style step/rock rails, roof rack, leather seats and rubber floor mats.
Additions: USMC tire cover, Red "bling" skid plate and FJ Cruiser decals, Scuba Driver mod, Manik black tail-light guards, Galaxy DX959 CB, Acquired some 16" Taco rims - trying to get some "mudder shoes"
Central Florida area - FLCA #207
http://www.flca.org
"Here comes the Coyote!"
