Again, I certainly have no issue with sponsors making announcements; it's just a puzzle (to me) that so many opt to use the "3R Scale" forum to do so, when so much of what they offer can be used by other groups as well.
Let's just say Atlas (or whoever) releases a new freight car. It's designed to operate on small radius "train set" curves, with "lobster-claw" couplers and large flanged, uninsulated wheels. But it's also got great details, so it's a prime candidate be converted to either 3R Scale or 2 Rail. (In fact, don't a lot of the newer cars feature "built-in" conversion features? I know K-Line did that with their nice die-cast hoppers...)
Better than even money says the announcement for this car will appear in the 3R Scale forum, and here's why I say this:
I just looked at the first (20) topics in the "Traditional", "3R Scale" and "2 Rail" forums, just to see who started them. Of those 20:
5 in the "Traditional" were from vendors; the balance (15) were started by members.
All of the first 20 posts in the "2 Rail" group were started by members; zero "ads".
18 of the 20 in the "3R Scale" category were started by vendor/sponsors.
Nothing wrong with it; simply curious...
Mark in Oregon