For sure things have evolved. I'd be interested to find out how newer members feel about the hobby, I think that's part of it. When you joined years ago everyone was all part of something new, nothing had been figured out. Now it's all pretty safe (here), problems have been sorted out, and in that sense it's perhaps more transactional for those newer members (perhaps they don't need to interact). They arrive looking for a watch, find one, move along.
Watches are more expensive, that does take away a lot of the fun. Not so many ETA movements either.
The recession happened too, it has to be said. Less discretionary income for some people.
The internet has evolved as well. There are fewer post whores now, I think Twitter is part of that. And people also interact more on Facebook than they used to, as a daily update kind of a thing. People like Pugwash and Victoria are Twitterites these days, but like them or loathe them, they kept conversations ticking over.
There was a big soap opera element back in the day too.
SOLUTIONS!
I'm not one to be glum though. Yes it evolved but there's a lot of fun to be had all the same. There is still a demographic of great people that seems to be drawn to the hobby, and most of all of those older member and all of the newer ones are still here. Perhaps there's room not to take all that for granted so much. It's a great community.
Perhaps there can be more focus on that pool of great members. We make our own entertainment at the end of the day, the more people put in, the more they'll take out.
Suggestions:
Expand from replica watches to include replica parrots. This is a brand new area, everything would be new. Also likely to be pirates involved. Argh. Create a community replica parrot, run by Blade. Cocaine debts, embezzlement, fake raffles, fake raffle winners, and fake member numbers seem to be popular on other watch forums.... More boobies. If Hublot ever bring out a new watch that might be helpful. A new trend into tiny, teeny little watches. A love rival for Miss Understood?