How true that is, and of course that leaves the giant unsolved problem - how to keep a site vibrant and interesting once the marketers and SEO types discover it

How true that is, and of course that leaves the giant unsolved problem - how to keep a site vibrant and interesting once the marketers and SEO types discover it. This site seems to be trying new things but a visit to the new section suggests it's not invulnerable. Presumably killing them all isn't a viable solution, so either everyone periodically moves on to the next new hot site, or we learn to live with them (and them with us).