In a niche community, even to be stable you need slow growth, even if at a trickle pace. The simple reason is that some formerly active people grow disintereste

In a niche community, even to be stable you need slow growth, even if at a trickle pace. The simple reason is that some formerly active people grow disinterested and move on, some grow old, some die. You need such a stream of newcomers that within their first, say, 500 contributions they get savvy enough to fit in and carry the momentum. You also need enough people who understand and tend to the spirit of the community so they can successfully oppose a famed veteran who may suddenly go renegade.