1) Networking and money to be made, lots of it. Next to a list of targeted affiliate emails, forums are the best way to conduct mass business in our Industry without having to spam people.
2) I don't think it's deteriorating, it's simply moving technologies. Like before, lots of people go out the door during those times, but others will pickup the slack.
3) I would say my services have done that for me.
I'm still here because I enjoy it... but I don't think of it as the adult industry, but rather the entire Internet, so I have a lot to enjoy
