The problem with an annual sub (which I too would not object to paying) is that it will diminish the site as a resource, simply because a lot fewer people would post here or even see it. Just as supermarkets make a lot of money on prominently-displayed "impulse purchase" items, there's a valuable surf-in input which we'd lose. Guests can sometimes be a pain, but those are well outnumbered by the ones who bring gems of info or spark interesting questions which then elicit other nuggets. We would all be the poorer for the loss of that. (And yes, I'm well aware of the amount of behind-the-scenes work undertaken by unpaid clones, scraping out the crap and spam in order to maintain that positive ratio.)

I prefer the discretionary-donation option, for the health of the site. Or perhaps suggesting a voluntary annual figure, which people are free to pay or not pay?

PS: Just put the wheels in motion for joining UK friends - I'd sent my PM to the wrong John (sorry, mate).