Thank you for the update and the response to feedback. It does make a big difference since people are generally reluctant to change and showing you do hear people helps to adapt. Sorry for the length of this post. I waited to see if anyone else had similar thoughts and found it strange you post only got 1 thumbs up as of posting this.
That said, I'm older. I have been in the hobby a long time. I came from the old RGP group and I will admit I was reluctant at first to move over. Heck, I was probably reluctant to go to RGP at first until I realized the resources I was missing out on. But most of the people I conversed with on a regular basis had already moved to Pinside. And it made sense. Pictures, links, marketplace, voting, . . . But I was old and reluctant and I took time to adapt and saw the light.
That said, I come to Pinball discussion group to talk with people that have a like minded interest. I enjoy the fact that I can help diagnose a problem or talk about features that attract me to a game. When I start hearing about "Premium Membership" I pull back. I understand time and money go into this site but I thought it was a hobby and something fun for the team running it. But I guess it has become a job. If I type up a solution to someone's problem I don't ask to be paid. As a matter of fact I have given parts to people in need without asking for a dime even for the shipping. That is the community part and what I give back. I have never used the market place so I do not even know how the fee thing would work, I assume PayPal or something that us old people don't have (yes, I pay bills by check still). Most of the games I buy are from local people who might also have it posted in a few places including Pinside but I hear about it from word of mouth. So they get "community penalized" for selling it and saying it did not sell through Pinside? To me a "Premium Member" is saying that someone is a better member of the community. We each give in our own way, money, time, humor and even sometimes we share the pain when a tragedy happens in our lives. I understand the size and scope has changed but please also know that it makes the core feeling change also. How many people would be on Facebook right now if they decided to fund its growth off the people who make up the community? It is a slippery slope and when decisions are made to sustain the "business" you do risk damaging the community.
I do not like change. So the removal of the thumbs down, rating system and other changes bugged me. But here you are the next day responding. That is good. And it helps me to say to myself to give the change a chance. Find out if I really like it or not before jumping to the negative. I know you say you would rather people post the reason and not just thumbs down but that is a double-edged sword. Sometimes its best to give the click and not start something bigger. I do not go to Pinside much on mobile but making structural changes to support responsive technology shows you are trying to make the experience better for the newer and changing audience. But do remember the people in this hobby come and go. When you are in it for the long haul you become and "old timer". Those are not the people you want to push out to make way for a new crowd you need to merge them. Most of the new crowd may not be here next year, just part of the hobby. You have built something pretty cool here and I get that changes need to be make to support the growing size. But be careful since others have had success or failure at these points.
I see someone just posted a remark against someone "This coming from the guy on pinside 2 years and no donation". Is this really what it is about? If you don't drink the same flavor cool-aid you not one of us for contributing in the same way? The other guy was just protesting in his own way. Sorry, but required fees do bother people. But now it is a weapon to be rubbed into your face. Is repair advice from a premium member better?
Flame suit on. I'm sure I will get called "cheap" and "out of touch" from people who don't know me or what I contribute to who. But I am one of the people here. I started alone in my basement buying, fixing and playing long before I knew others were doing the same. I have enough to keep me busy until the end of my days. I wonder how many people here today will have the same dedication 10 or 20 years from now.
