>>Are you fed up with putting money in Michel Fournier's pocket????
>
>Not at all. He could be making a billion dollars per year, as long as I get value for my money and the VFP support continues to be the best available.
>

But what if you could get the same stuff for free? Clearly, you have pegged your loyalty based on value for your money??? As somebody who is fairly active up here, and gives support, it really does not bother you that Michel makes money off your efforts????

>>Personally, If I ran this place, I would charge everybody $5.00 a month for access. There would be a substantial discount for folks that paid for 12 months in advance. Any and all profits would be dumped back into forum, and as always, the books would be open. MS MVP's of course, would get free access. Also, free access would be provided for folks with special circumstances.... Between that and the advertising, there is little question this place would be in much better shape... At the very least, you would not deal with the BS rules.
>
>I think you should do this to test the business model.

I don't need to test the model. I only have to look at DevX and apply some common sense... Heck, I could probably get by with charging $2.00/month.

Let see, if I got 2,000 @ $60.00 US/year ($90 CDN) = $120,000 US ($180,000 CDN)

Right there, not only could this site be supported, but it would be kick ass. I bet there are are 2000 PUTM's right now. Even if there are only 1000 PUTMS, at $125 CDN, that is $125K CDN / $83K US.

Are you telling me that the UT cannot survive on $83,000 US a year??????

Your most significant cost are the ISP charges. I am sure that Michel uses the pipe for his core business. Costs? I can get a T1 pipe in Philadelphia for $1,300 / month which is $15,600 annually. That leaves a boat load of money for hardware, improvements, etc...

Unless Michel is trying to make a living soley off the UT, which he has never claimed he has, there is no reason why this place should not be ecomonically viable.

My point is that this place should be flush with cash.... I am sick of hearing how everything has to be a social welfare case with the UT.

If there are problems, it is only because the whole thing is grossly mismanaged.

I don't see how it all add's up. Even if you take the numbers down to a small level, it still adds up to a good chuck of change..

It is all about calling it what it is... And most of all, getting milage out of the MVP program when he is no longer hosting the MVP's anymore...

If Michel wants to make money....great...Just don't ride the MVP coat-tails in the process....