Harro,
I certainly appreciate the time and effort that you, and the other moderators put into this place.
I first found out about BHW when I was doing a google search for a product I wanted to pick up. At the time, the members download section was being indexed by google, and you didn't have to be signed into the forum to read threads there. I got what I wanted, and bookmarked the site to come back to.
When I came back, I started reading around in the other sections, and liked what I read enough to sign up. Sure, I went on a little downloading spree when I signed up, but after that I made sure to read the other sections of the forum. I joined the irc channel after seeing a post about it. I read a lot of great information being talked about the "regular" sections of the board. I ended up buying some things from the BST section. Since then, I haven't really been in the downloads section. Mostly because I know the things posted in there are kind of crap, but also because I'm busy acting on the information I picked up out of the "regular" threads, along with the stuff from the BST section.
If it wasn't for the download section, I never would have found this place, and knowing about it now, that would be sad. I really like this place, there's some great people here that think along the same lines that I do. I don't have many posts, and that's because I'm mostly reading, learning, and implementing right now. I hope that in the future I'll be able to give back to those in my situation right now.
I know everyone is not like me. I consider myself to be above average intelligence, and have some social tact. Some people just want to come and download what the want, and don't care about anything else. Some poeple are just R Tards and they're the "1 and 2 post wonders" that come in here asking for things. Well, all I can really say to that is: their loss. If they can't see the value in this place past the download section, then it's their loss.
So what is the happy medium between the two? I have no idea unfortunately, and I certainly wouldn't want to be in the position to figure out what it is. I've got enough on my plate as it is! It's your forum, and you'll do what you think is best, I just wanted to throw in a comment from the other side. I hope to be a valuable member here, and I never would have found the place where it not for the download section in the first place.
Anyways, this is a great place guys, keep it up! Off to read a few more threads and then get some things done!