I have no problem leaving the extras up as that just goes to show how just as every other platform HT has used, this new one has kinks combined in with the learning curve. Even we mods have troubles with new platforms at times
The reason I ended up posting in triplicate was because when I clicked post reply, for some reason the site told me my reply did not post and returned me back to the submit reply with my text in place. Whatever the glitch was I hope it is gone or been fixed by the system crew.
As far as how the site is now run, I don't see that big a difference as when it was run in the day when Mean Dean was the systems wizard.
During that era , admin worked with the mods and members to give us a free to use board host and used the available resources at the time to keep the site up and "the lights on"
Now instead of a board host that is a part of a small server farm, we are a part of a small server farm that is a part of a multi facet web presence of many server farms.
Austin however is still administrating us as has always been and using the currently available resources to keep the lights on for our facet of the web presence we are now a part of. As every good admin we have had he is working to know the boards and discusses with the members and mods as he does his best to maintain our HT community and keep the lights on and protect the HT part of the web presence we are now a part of.
The HT site has always been both a good free gathering place with good discussion and information. It has also always been a corporate value component that has been able to generate much of it's overhead costs and some profit for the owner.
Austin is diligently making effort to preserve the HT site identity and figure the best and most respectful ways to use the currently available tools to reach a balance to give HT the best he can, keep the lights on, keep the site secure as possible and most of all keep that which always had made HT that special place we all have made it.
Yes we have seen changes but we have also seen much effort to keep the special qualities that have kept HT as the special place it is to us . One change we have seen is that we are beginning to see a few new folks come in searching for their homesteading and life questions as we all have done.
Give the efforts now being pursued a chance and keep in mind that our admin is in constant contact with us all as we all participate on our favorite boards and HT . We all share the same goal of keeping the site the comfortable place it always has been and if a few new members come in, there is nothing wrong with that.