Donated.
Can those who have written, "I could never support a paid site" PLEASE explain why? Do you expect admins to give time and effort gratis? Do you give your own expertise and time in your own fields for nothing? Honestly, I simply do not understand this attitude, and would like to.
Some points: I belong to FredMiranda.com, as many here do, and I am a member there. Fred's model is simple: if you want to upload images, you pay a modest annual subscription. If you want to sell gear there (and a huge number of people there do) then you need to upload images. Images cost money (I run a medium size, 3,000 member, site myself, and have a good idea of the time and money involved), so if you want to sell your gear, you pay the subscription. A very large number of members do. The same model can work here: someone who only wants to read threads would not have to pay, and people who want to upload images, whether for C&C or gear for sale, would. Simple and elegant.
I have bought and sold gear here, and feel that the combination of being able to see whether someone is a 'Jill-come-lately' or a member whose writing and images I have known over time (and hence being able to know whether an item on offer is likely to 1) be real, and 2) looked after), is priceless. I have only bought and sold here and on FM, with zero problems, over many years. Compare this to ebay. Is this alone not worth an annual subscription?
I have not visited here for over a year, but a colleague on FM pointed me to this thread. I know that Guy M is no longer involved (he posts a great deal over at FM) and Bob and Jack, having run this site for a long time, have other things they need to concentrate their time on. The baton needs to be passed—who has the skills to do this?
Update: I skipped from page 2 to here, so missed the entrance of Olaf, from stage left—Welcome, Olaf.
My remarks about considering Fred Miranda's model are still relevant, I believe. And I also believe that the Teleb model of 'skin in the game' applies, too: if the upload image cost is reasonable and you want to show your images or sell gear, many people will do it. Fred's site is currently $59/annum, $99/two years, but because I decided to support the site years ago, my renewal is half that. So, if such a model were enabled, a 'thank you' to current members might be $20/annum, and new members a bit more. And current members' pricing could stay at whatever the starting point is, again in recognition of the forum only being what it is because of them.
My question about why some posters will not even consider a paid model (whatever form it takes) remains. After all, we have all spent tens of thousands on gear over the years (some way more than that!). A modest amount per annum to cover the essential aspect of learning how to use one's gear better, and to learn the myriad aspects that go to making a better image, seems reasonable to me.