As I have only had a home computer for a few of years I have no idea of what this forum was like before then.
Model Railroader promotes itself to its readers that subscribers to the magazine are allowed to access a number of features that are denied to those members.
Did model railroader ever in the past only allow subscribers to post messages in this forum, with the non-subscribers being allowed " read only" access?
Frankly, I am surprised that Model Railroader does allow anyone to join online and gives full access to the forums, without also subscribing to their magazine. If subscriptions were mandatory would not the magazine base increase?
Don, the forum is free to the public, whether registered or not. Anyone can view the forum posts…all forums. What they can’t do is actually type and post a response…unless they register…which is also open to the public (except unmentionable persona non grata).
I think you must be referring to the extra features available to those with subscriptions to the actual magazines for each forum. In my case, I am a subscriber to Classic Trains. I can open certain links that non-subscribers are not permitted to open. Same for Model Railroader. Reviewed engines, for example, have videos in many cases. Only subscribers may see them.
No, the forum has always been free to access and post to anyone who registers regardless of whether they subsribe to the magazines or not. I believe the “subscriber only” content was started 2-3 years ago.
I don’t remember them having that in 04 when I signed up.
Most of the site is open to all. I think MR is trying to promote the hobby and figures if it grows they’ll get new subscribers. Also, they sell a lot of advertising so having a well visited site helps that end of the business too. Frankly, like the magazine this site is the best I have seen for model railroading - there’s tons of information in the Articles section.