+1
I too have experienced excellent service from undoubtedly the same person hecd2 is referencing. Indeed, he is still the only seller on eBay I "Follow".
I joined this forum after "the change" so cannot fully comment on the before and after differences. However, from the POV of being a newcomer soon afterwards I genuinely wonder what the mothership contribution was like beforehand if all I have lived through is the promised great new era.
That said, I agree that it's the Owner and their Mods who should decide the site ethos and culture, regardless of my declining respect for M's management of communications.