As Jetsetter pointed out, this board is a "beat" for Wall Street Journal reporters who look for story ideas, email Flyertalks to obtain "color quotes," write them up and publish them to a giant audience. This is patent laziness on the reporters' parts, of course; it's like dynamite fishing. And they don't have to actually leave their snug offices to track down "real people," 'cos they're all right here. (Though I believe an increasing number of us are declining to cooperate with the Journal.) Anyway, in this manner Flyertalk people and Flyertalk issues gain even greater attention and influence.