I hang around because of legacy and familiarity. But I'm not going to pay for those sentiments.
And as I've said before, it goes against my business principles to pay for site in which we provide the content and do the work which keeps the board active.
If you went to work tomorrow and your boss said that they're going to start charging you for every sheet of paper and pen you use, in addition to charging you rent to use your cubicle - you'd look at him/her like they just grew a second head.
This isn't (can't believe I'm about to use this example) Mediafakeout for instance, wherein they deliver the content and allow you to chime in the threads.
If HNIC had a site structured like this, then I would understand the need for payment.
No one is coming to BGOL because it uses VB Bullentin 3.8, there are 7 themes, and a hand full of sub-forums. You can get that any other number of place.
They come to, and stay on BGOL because of us - so to charge us for is sort of a smack in the face.