As the last few posts attest, it's probably frustration/burnout that stops most old timers from sticking around, treerat.
Some simply move on too, back to 'real life',
The site is massively bigger than it was when I started here. I could read everything then - family and friends included. That's just not possible now.
The constant is that core group of committed members who stick around to mentor/advise or just simply to help newcomers
D