I was here in the easternwx days.
I think the discussions we see today, occasional whining/trolling aside, are much better than in the past.
Most non-met posters here can understand h5 maps and can interpret soundings, and contribute a lot of value to the discussion.
Compare that with 15-20 years ago, when most non-met posters would just spam threads with “how much for Philly?” questions or when they’ll see snow in their backyards.