Nice origin story!
As for me, I joined at the end of 2013 after searching for manga artists forum. At the time I had just got super into anime at the beginning of the year so it reflected in my art. Even though I never called it manga I still wanted to go on a forum like this since comic people are often super snobby about this kind of stuff. This is the only other forum I go on actually. I like to have a quiet place where I can ramble about stuff like anime and music in my own corner. I really disliked the other anime forums I tried, I just don't like talking to a lot of those people. Here I can just post about what I like and hopefully avoid debates and stuff.
It's just a cool space on the Internet to chill. Since there is less of us it's easier to talk to everyone and settle in. I have fun collabing with Lego, found many-a-cool things thanks to Paipis, I like talking with Vacant, Nair, NO1SY, Sherbet and everyone on the podcast and I'm always happy whenever suuper or anyone else comments on my art thread! I like the forum for being something smaller like that, where you can kind of know everyone, in a small way, who browses here. Sometimes I wish there was more activity and stuff but...I don't mind.
I am quite ashamed how I'm #10 in the Most Time Online. Not as crazy as Vio, who joined a few months after me, at #2 but still. I'm the #10 thread starter as well. Me and Vacant are tied. I'll get you.