::: sigh :::
It constantly amazes me that people rant so loud and hard without really knowing what they're talking about. And just for the record, I am NEW here - but I did take the time to actually READ the post. Since most of the posters in this thread apparently didn't do so,
Here's the link. Short version - you can still get what you used to get here, but there will be some high-end services that you can access for $30/year.
Re "bait and switch" - ::: deeper sigh ::: no, this is NOT what a bait-and-switch is. Bait-and-switch is advertising camera #1 for $300, but you don't really have it - but you DO have camera #2 for $450 that you try to switch me to.
The harsh reality here is that it DOES cost money to run a forum like this. You guys have been spoiled rotten here - Anand works his butt off to get you great content, and you have never paid a cent for it. And you STILL won't have to - unless you want extra goodies. Accusing him of somehow illicitly luring you to use or continue to use the site is...well, pretty sad.
Almost all of you have saved a bundle by reading and participating here. This is not a socialist commune - money has to be made for the site to continue to succeed. Banners alone don't do this, particularly since banner revenue has dropped by 50-90% for most web sites. If you don't want to pay the $30/year, don't! But threatening to leave a forum that has done you all so much good is just plain selfish (not to mention shortsighted).
...dan