A spot-on assessment, Gatewood. Peer group approval (and there are several 'groups,' but of course one (newish) clique now dominates) has gotten out of control and out of proportion on the once-sturdy & far more OPEN/welcoming to all BOTF. This is probably why the exits of a fairly steady stream of once-constant BOTFers have ensued. The current ruling clique is a nasty little bunch, very quick to judge and unfairly criticize, and to make (unfounded) assumptions of "intellectual" superiority. Good post, and thanks.