You also have to look at the development and popularity of websites like Reddit as a cause for all this. I don't really find too many active forums around anymore. Especially not one like we had here some years back. It was a good time to be on the webzones.
It's funny, I felt a little nostalgic and decided to check the forums out for old times sake. I have done this in the past here and there. But when I found this thread I immediately felt a little bummed out