I think offering only a bug tracker and no forum can contribute to some of these problems. I only create an issue in a bug tracker for bugs or change request.

I think offering only a bug tracker and no forum can contribute to some of these problems. I only create an issue in a bug tracker for bugs or change request. The interaction feels impersonal. On the other hand with a forum you get more of a community feel. There might be a subforum for writing about your experience with the software (so you get positive feedback) and one where users help each other, with the maintainer only chiming in occasionally.