jaredoconnor
Peabrain Chub
I suspect the very large corporation that bought the site (and owns hundreds of others) is actually quite used to this phenomena. Internet search engines will be directing FF websurfers there for years. Some will join, others will lurk, and most probably take a brief look and leave...but ALL will exposed to advertising and/or provide valuable market niche clicks to the commercial enterprises VS sells data to.
Interesting business model; acquire well established web forums, harvest its commercial value, and move on if the original withers, all the while acquiring additional established forums.
I doubt it. Ads aren't lucrative without massive volume and most of that volume comes from us; the people who open the site many times a day. If it was a treasure trove, Chris wouldn't have needed premium accounts etc.
This is probably a very rare event for them; few have the motivation and/or capacity to set up their own competitor. IMO, they have lost a lot by us all leaving and I think it is hilarious.
I just hope Chris had a straight buy out and not some BS royalty deal.