sydalg, what you're reading in the archives is the stuff that was selected for publishing, but the quality on the subs board had less ill-considered, poorly thought out stuff in it.
There's far more of that now.
I came here about a zillion years ago thanks to a link on the BBC Magazine site, and I've been here ever since. At first, I just sat back and read everything that was posted, observed the style of the site, and tried to learn what would work and what wouldn't.
After a few weeks I took the plunge and subbed something which sank without trace. A few days later I made a suggestion on someone else's sub which was used and I got my first hat-tip. It took a while before I had my first FP, and like all my subsequent FPs, it was a joint one.
I soon realised that I preferred the banter in chat, although I still enjoyed reading the subs board and offering suggestions or advice when necessary.
And that's where I've kept, and why I still come on here. I had a flurry of FPs and Nibs the latter part of last year and earlier this year, but that was because I'd been nagged mercilessly by my writing partner to actually put my name to something rather than giving him ideas and lines to use.
I have adored NB for so long, and I'll still pop in with my usual witterings, but the subs board holds little interest for me now.