I belong to some Adobe forums, like Lightroom and Photoshop. Over there, they keep "experts" or "gurus" (as they are called) answering repetitive, boring questions; some of them are Adobe employees, others I guess get indirectly paid (software for free, discounts, etc), but they keeps the forums alive.
On the other hand, other very busy bonsai forums are kept alive only by enthusiastic, unpaid members; a few driven by their big egos and will to show off, but many others really willing to teach and help. And it works.
What puzzles me after some years here, is the fact we have experienced people willing to help like Auk, LB, Geoff or Mimo, but... New members don't stay. Either they get a fast answer and disappear, or most have no interest at all in bonsai.
What are we doing wrong? Why is this forum shrinking instead of growing (as is clear that interest in bonsai is growing worldwide)?
As I said, it's a puzzle.
I have no answer to that.