Perhaps the ultimate success of any forum is the openness and sharing of info and expertise. This really builds det cohesion. Many of us with little time, money and skills would otherwise be excluded from the inner circle of self-proclaimed prop gods. Along the way we come up with our own adaptations and designs to improve the whole - kinda like open source code.
Cyber-balkanization never benefits anyone and just an excuse for the flame wars I see on other boards.