isn't the core business of a community the message boards? so buying the maker can only bring enhancements to a core function of their businesses.

I want to wait before making any decisions but as a customer if they decide to increase vBulletin price i'll not buy any other license then i currently have because if they do increase the price it will look exactly compansating the money they spend for the agreement. The company looks like an money investor , buying internet sites to a price then sell them with good profit in couple years. That's the only thing that bugs me.

In some cases yes... for example Google's hiring of Vint Cerf, purchasing Dark Fiber, and building out a data center were directly related to reducing the cost of their operations.

In other cases no.... for example lets use animationtalk.com - the core of your business are the users NOT the software running the site behind the scenes. Expenses aside, it wouldn't make any sense for you to buy Jelsoft. If you did, you would be forced to focus on the development of the software package as a whole when it would be easier to develop the aspects your site may specifically need. You have the extra burden of supporting the software when you really want to be talking about animation because thats what your users are interested in and its whats driving your revenue stream.

sometimes i am asking myself "how Reeve is making it".... damn, you are intelligent and have the right words for everything you explain... ;)

Exactly what I think. :)

This is what we call "growing pains". It happens to virtually all successful businesses. I'm guessing this is going to get a lot more heated before the thread closes but imo it's going to be a good thing.

It wouldn't make sense to increase prices dramatically. This would drive away a large percentage of vb's end users and "part time" developers. Of which most would migrate to an open source alternative (SMF) or commercial competitor (IPB). In turn that would lead to an eventual scenario where VB would lose it's coveted "best community software" crown. That would definitely be bad for the company.

My guess is that VB will stay practically untouched for quite awhile to come. I'm expecting a few more commercial scripts from them though. Possibly in the CMS, Social Networking and Ecommerce genres. Again guessing but they will probably be based heavily on the VB code base and just rebranded as additional products. This would allow them to get a quick surge in profits while minimizing time and investment.

I say the price increases 10% within a year and that there will be two or three additional products available for sale. This is the only thing that makes sense when you consider what the company needs to do to continue it's growth.

My half cent.

Is the sky falling?

Is it better to address an issue before it happens or after?

Both.. Preemptive strikes can help repel or defeat a perceived imminent offense and gain a strategic advantage. :D

Define "issue" for me please.

As far as I can tell, it has taken place already and even it hadn't, I don't see difference us posting in here can make? Businesses normally make business decisions based on facts and figures, not emotionally charged posts!

Don't you think it would more prudent find out IF there any "issues" rather than dreaming them up and reacting?