I'm glad you did ramble -- becuase you're one of the few people who's agreed with me! I think it's just that a lot of folks don't have anything different to compare to. I came in to fandom when it was on the cusp of changing from a print culture to a web culture. I love the 'net and what it's brought us. But there just isn't any getting around the fact that it's also made us an instant gratification, disconnected, conversationless mass. You don't have to be involved to be a fan anymore; previously, you did. But more than anything, I think, I just miss the *recent* conversations that sprang up in the jossverse. His shows transcended the limitations of the disconnectedness we have now, and brought larger groups together for more discussion than you get with most fandoms. I was very spoiled the last two years. I'm really seeing that now, as it's gone away.