The impression I'm getting from this thread is that our membership is clearly divided into those who consider this site as a community, and don't mind giving their time and/or money just as a thank you for being part of it, and those who look at the forum mostly from the utilitarian point of view of shifting gear at the best possible price and don't seem to assign that much value to pure "bass chat", banter, advice, etc.
The latter group is clearly a bit miffed at the newly introduced fees. Basschat's owners, admins and mods are having to deal with two forces pulling in roughly opposite directions, and that can't be easy if, as they're doing at present, they try to keep both of them more or less satisfied.