Compared to before, I definitely think that traffic has declined, or else just about everything else wouldn't be declining, either.
However, I never said that they weren't making decent money; clearly they are (at least, to their definitions of "decent") enough to continue ignoring us. I was using the "relevant to interests" as an excuse to do whatever we want. Just convince them, if (and only if) the owners start complaining about our initiatives. The goals of the community are quite the same, when reduced down: we want this site to stick around, and so do the owners. Different motivations, perhaps, but the goal is the same, and that justifies the means to which we acquire self-preservation.
Woah, who said I was going to do it by helping the forums? Not my problem. I'm here for the frontsite. My concerns are for the frontsite, and my hands are tied by the corporate shindig.
All I need is a plastic bag, three bottles of vodka, Diff EQ girl, strategy guides for all of the games we have not yet covered, a wireless keyboard, and a 52 inch screen monitor, and I'll show you what needs to be done. And a laser pointer, because then I can point to it. I'll even not ask for a mouse, because, frankly, you don't need it to have a computer run.