As I remember, Lucky was always one of the most friendly and helpful FTers. Though I never attended, I remember him arranging a number of Captain Denny dinners. I think he might have been considered a FT star and believe he was even quoted in various media.

Where I would disagree with Randy is saying Lucky "found it easier (as has others) to use a blog as an instrument to help others with advice and information than the (at times) signal/noise ratio challenges of a long thread in a bulletin board format."

My belief is Lucky and others moved away from FT because they saw their blogs as a way to effectively monetize the profile and knowledge they built on FT.

They do that by getting commissions on driving readers to sign up for various credit cards. Everyone has to make a buck, so I don't fault them in turning their hard work into a successful business. They are hardly alone in marketing something for financial gain, and they seem to properly disclose that's what they are doing. However, Randy saying it was some type of philanthropic move is IMO 100% disingenuous.