In defense of RIU, most of us have no idea what is going on behind the scenes. We don't know the legal issues they've had to confront. We don't know if they've received cease and desist orders about things. We don't know what their lawyers have told them. Do they already have two strikes and they're out if they get a third? And then there's the business model... sometimes if you let people slide on rules, the whole thing breaks down. Problems financing the site will shut it down too. I don't know, there are people who blast GLG for not taking cards without knowing what he knows. I put this in the same category. I'll give RIU a pass, personally. Still, it's a bummer to lose RBJF and any others who split or got the ban too. He contributed a lot.
I figure after winter and then the pandemic lockdowns, a lot of people are just burned out on being online. That, and summer, and getting busy with outdoor grows... a slowdown on here was inevitable. Many will be back come fall, I bet.