" As to it being just a message board, I beg to differ."

Differ all you want mate... Won't make it mean any more... Every single message board I visit, frequent, or even just ghost says the exact same as you do... "Oh... we're different... OUR group is special"... Well, when everything is special, then NOTHING is special...   

"And all because of this place"
If there had never been a Mudcat, you'd be singing the exact same song about whatever other message board you chose to frequent, through which you met some people and their kids...