If there are fewer people posting does that mean that the search facility or the power of google etc has improved and people are getting the info that they want and going on their merry way.
I would reckon the value of the site is its library resource.
The search is good and i reckon that someone wanting wants background or words of songs on songs Mudcat along with wikipedia provide great inf sources. If i post or am looking for song words and i get corrections i am quite happy that folks in general try to give informed comment.
Older age group folk music is on the decline due to something called "age"
As for the BS section many of the comments and opinions show the character of the posters and many of the comments i find in most cases are justified.
Having worked in front line mental health for a number of years I was used to being abused and threatened with extreme violence by opiniated people. For that reason I find that the BS section although sometimes tedious is in general informative and entertaining.
I dont think that in all the years (possibly around 15 years) that I have been looking in on Mudcat that the discussion is in any way contributing to a lower number of posts as the quality of the discussions is roughly the same as i was all those years ago reflecting all the colors of the rainbow.
"Just a thought" - - Bluebottle of the Goons (if its not someone will correct me ... hee hee)