We did this in the best interest[s] of all of us, including you. Many other forums have done this as well, yet have 'gone down', 'crashed' etc. We did not. We apologize in advance if you do not like it, cannot understand it, or just want things to stay the way they were/are.
Too damn bad.
Other forums charge; to search, to have an avatar, to utilize the private message system, to see the 'for sale' areas and so on. We charge nothing, all we ask is that upon registration you introduce yourself. A link is provided for you in an email as well as a private message.
All of that being said it is in fact difficult to remain number one. We work hard at it every day and many of the inferior forums outright copy our content, look, and style/flow. The long story-short of it is while imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, we wish that you would just do your own thing. Sink or swim, be yourselves. Let your work stand on its own merit and have some integrity.
That is all.