I've noticed that many of the newbies we've had on FAOL over the past 2 years have become good "regulars"! )

But I know what you mean. I think it might have something to do with a bunch of existing fly-anglers discovering what is available on-line...and most of those have found FAOL. The rate of new recruitment to fly-fishing is probably low, so we get "newbies" less frequently now than before.