Just a thought, CD
You have so many ideas going all the time, and I find it very refreshing. There's nothing like having a creative dream to keep the mind stimulated.
You guys have something unique here. A relaxing, no-holds barred environment without all of the controversy.
But, I have a suggestion, if you don't mind.
You should actually limit people's ability to get their own forum right away. Make that more of an incentive to aspire to. As the place grows, and it will, the site might become unwieldy and there won't be time to check on the forums and therefore lose some control over the place.
For example: Why not establish a post count before people are allowed to get their own space? Heck you could even charge a nominal fee, say $2-3 dollars a month to save money for advertising.
If people have something to aspire to, they'll be more vested. They'll post more often, get hooked on the place as they work towards a goal.
One of the great attributes of this forum is that the threads are separate which allows posters to enjoy their favorites without so much negativity.
I'm only on page 13, so it may take me a while to see any replies to my posts.