I can't answer you question McGrath. It is pretty well impossible to go looking at forums and get a quick impression of what they are really like. Even this place has its bad times, in jokes and humor that probably means nothing to anyone reading for the first time...

As regards format, Mudcat is unusual in the way it lumps everything together in one forum. Whether it is a good thing or a bad thing, I don't know but personally I prefer the ones that allow say separating BS from music and perhaps adding a couple of more specific categories. I know that this is something Max is against (and from what I can figure from the design of Mudcat would be difficult to implement) but I can't help feeling that approach would keep the "pure music people" happy without really inconveniencing anyone. Also I think some of the possessiveness you mention is really a sort of struggle to "control" (not the best choice of words - maybe direct?) the single centre stage here.

One forum that I have been following with interest but doesn't appear to have taken off is The Heartcall Cafe. It seems almost a copycat of Mudcat without the dt (although the forum design is different).

Jon