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Yes, it quickly became obvious that your only reason for asking the question was to get feedback that supports your choices, because you've chosen to ignore, excuse, or argue every comment that doesn't.
So let me start by saying that I've assisted in starting and running several online forums (non-art), all with memberships and activity levels well above this. Despite your claims, it's not that time or money intensive - unless you haven't taken the time to learn what your doing or you're getting shafted by your hosting company.
Let me follow by quoting your reply to another: "You are missing the sense of community that is created by a Forum such as this and it's obvious this is not for you."
I'd suggest that you take the time to look through your membership list then go and visit the various other online art forums. Cennini, ArtQuorum, OAG, WetCanvas, ConceptArt, EggTempera, SoFA, Art&Artistry, and others are available. Take note how many of your members, who rarely if ever post or show any activity here at all, are very active in participating elsewhere.
This is a forum that's sorely lacking in a sense of community and incentive to participate. You don't have the critical mass of posters necessary to keep the forum active and members near, else fewer would spend so much time elsewhere and so little here. You've created your nice little gated community but put in place so many covenants and restrictions that what few qualified residents you can attract will quickly tire and move on out of boredom, leaving the community to languish.
There's nothing wrong with your goal for this forum or most of your restrictions as this is tied to the business. However, for you to outright dismiss each and every suggestion that would encourage participation and growth because they differ from your near-sighted choices is just assinine.
Why ask a question in this forum if there's rarely anyone here to answer it? Why ask for opinions if there's always the same two or three? Why offer advice, insight, suggestions, articles, works, etc. if there are few there to acknowledge ot take advantage of it?
If you would open up this forum just a little, in select non-professional categories to a verified but unjuried class of member, you'd increase participation which would draw your juried members out of hibernation and benefit all.
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