Most People underestimate the amount of work and money that goes into something like this. The not to be named big former Sponsor of this site not just deserted the c4d comunity but they also put all the pressure on Igors sholders. Yes this is a diamond, a diamond that should be of a huge value to maxon (that easily could jump in for the deserted former sponsor), but is doesn't seem to be. Now all over sudden Igor not just has to keep the forum running, now he has to pay for it and on top he also is responsible for its legacy.
We got used to all the free sites, but we forget, that when you do not pay - then you are not the customer, but the product. Facebook, youtube and so on sell our data fo finance the "free" service. This is not working for a forum like this. It needs money. hard earned money. Like the 10 buggs a year that so many people are complaining about. And for a single Person it is even much more money. But that seems to be ok, as long it is not the own money. And Igor of couse has so much fun updating software, debugging bugs and taking care about the generall tone in the forum, that you can expect him to pay all on his own.
NO - A forum like this can be gone in a blink of an eye. Very easily just by a stoped payment, a crash without backup or illness of one single person. And the diamond is gone with its legacy. Human motivation and recources are finite, as we all know.
So for me personally a stable foundation is the most important thing. All the rest is nice to have. Igor said, that the forum is growing even with the paywall... so everything is fine, the forum is saved and enough people seem to understand the necesarity to invest a minimum amouont of money. And hopefully Igor is willing to keep on the good work for a long time.
Every one of us can dig deep into his mind and maybe can find a new Sponsor for this site. We all are responsible for this situation, this is a community, not a big company business.