GS has changed several times in its existence, the look and feel, the features/functions.
some thread had images of GS over the years, may have to dig it up for people to see.
In the end, the members make a community site, the usability, mods/admins/approach, and functions/features aid in making the site a place where someone wants to stay and participate. We have an excellent user base, which has changed in its make up over the years but that and the mod team makes the place what it is.