Just keep the forum open, welcoming and receptive to new members and you'll always be one step ahead of those who "pale in comparison".
Look at what has happened to rgp v pinside over the last 6-12 months. Maintaining the parochial cliques and "pecking order mentality" ensures a slow but steady forum death.
As said above, there are a ton of new guys getting into pinball and are looking for an Aussie forum where they are not treated with suspicion, mistrust or downright hostility. (Hopefully they find this forum first and don't get discouraged by others.)
