Well I agree with Flip Mo about the whole 'family familiarity' thing. There's a feeling of solidarity, feeling comfort in a place you visit and re-visit for so long, and that must be key to its attraction. When I think about it it's a kind of mystery to me: how I got here, or why I keep coming back, but I know that if it weren't for a few select members I'd be gone... I've been talking to Jokey and Chronic on and off now for a good six or seven years, and that's interesting to me, and obviously I'd like to preserve that...
And I do believe the forum and its discussion topics more caters to a certain crowd, a certain area of interest, a certain lack luster and waning conversation, BUT over the years I have read and spoke my mind on many notes and learned a thing or two in certain key discussions, so it's all a bit educational, a bit fun...