Welcome to the Downs,
Soriman! You started a very good and relevant thread indeed. Asking where the site was at was a good question; and I enjoyed seeing some other Downers reappear, whom I haven't seen here for a while! That's the same for me, who, until today, hadn't posted here since last September!
I enjoyed the responses very much; because I only (compared to others) joined the forum in October 2008, after lurking for a long time, finally encouraged to do so after meeting some Downers in person at that year's Oxonmoot. I still, however, lurked, and didn't start posting until August 2011.
I agree with
Formendacil, that we have grown '
treeish' over the years, including since I joined, with social media being a factor, as it has been for so many other online fora, in all subjects, not just about Tolkien and his works.
Like you,
Rune, although I'm a latecomer compared to you and others, I long for when there was more activity.
I also agree with
Huinesoron, that a new thread will accumulate some replies. This can be seen with the new one on
Farmer Giles of Ham. I would certainly encourage you to either join an existing thread, post a new one, or link to an old one!