As for what I offered for subsciptions, yes, they are gimmicks. But they are something. If you want to offer your own ideas or fix up what I offered, feel free. Most people tend to simply say "OH THAT'S STUPID" rather than say:
"Well how about this , instead..."
there is actually a thread going on not far away where these things are discussed. there are enough good ideas out there. I do not need repeating them.
of course, mindlessly bashing somebody else's ideas is rude; I tried to give reasons why I don't think the ones you brought up here are good ones.
It would be nice to hear what options people would be willing to pay for. Naturally, everyone wants it free but I'm talking to those who would be willing to pay for various features.
that's what I thought you were. many other propose such ideas, too, but make it sound as though they'd want it mandatory, whcih would kill every fandom-related site quickly. quicker than relying on donation, believe me. people on the net are that way.
As for FA being the museum and not the presenter, that's what I am referring to by "FA not responsible for exposing art". No one should get special treatment.
then you should remove all recent submissions from the starting page per se. because if someone does not want to pay, or simply can't, nobody can tell for sure. so it wouldn't be fair to exclude a high-class artist, struggling to live being a student, say we, from that function because s/he can't afford the couple green, while someone who barely knows how to hold a pencil, and draws for the lulz - but has the funds - clutters that page with stick figures. as you said, noone should get special treatment.
And paying for upgraded options are not 'special treatment'. There are people who will happily pay and never use any optional features.
want to rephrase that? because I think you are contradicting yourself... every extra option you pay for is special treatment indeed, because you pay for it. if you donate, then the latter part of that statement comes true, giving money without expecting something immediately back in return. except maybe a smoothly running site, for example.
I also was not referring to Paypal. It's an obvious choice to have but money orders plus many other online credit card payment services are there for the taking. I'm not to familiar with a majority of them but Paypal is definitely not the only one.
let me clarify something for you, please.
the artists and audience on FA doesn't indeed hail only from the north-american continent. they are from all over the world. thus, money orders won't work; money transfers take lots of time and insane fees sometimes (a money transfer between indian banks takes so long it's easier and safer to use cash there). not everybody has easy access to credit cards good to pay via internet with. I for one wouldn't be allowed one for various reasons, and in other countries outside germany it's more ridiculous... soem even have no online paying service available at all.
so, what should those do? wander off and retrieve the rest of the world from their wondrous works?
excuse me, but that wouldn't work out either, optional or not.
so, what's wrong with a little exposure on the front page? some here exüplained that they found many new artists via that function.
Not because I want proof, but just because I think it would be neat to see. 
