Would there be any way of being able to receive alerts or notifications for forum threads you may be interested in?
For example, I would be interested in being alerted to new forum threads posted under modelling talk. The bonus for this being able to find relevant threads more easily, and those that are interested in those threads being alerted to them before they have gone off course. Models might post more often, knowing more models might potentially see their thread, and that more responses by models to models may happen more often and in a more timely manner.
In the same way, photographers may want to subscribe to alerts for say photographic equipment threads. So to give every member a chance to subscribe to the forum activity they would like notifications about, not just the threads they have saved by responding in already.
This wouldn't stop anyone contributing to any thread, more, hopefully, encourage a more active forum base.
:)