VB as a forum software is old and clunky. Newer software is smoother and more user friendly. However, any change here is a steep learning curve.
I've never paid for membership as never needed to, although the latest addition may make me change this.
I perceive the discount codes etc as being a bit of a PITA. I read somewhere that you had to contact the supplier to get the discount, not a voucher code to put in on the website. They may not all be like this (or none at all), but I read it somewhere......
Do premium members have their own forum section to share and discuss openly and freely? If not, and the only major benefit is discounts with suppliers I don't use, then my £10 can be better spent elsewhere.
Reviews and opinions need to stay. The forum is good at self policing this. There was a thread recently by someone who's heat press hadn't turned up and they posted a 'whoa me' thread about it. Didn't take long for them to be put in their place. Haven't seen them about lately either.
My only quibble with some advertisers is how some jump onto threads with posts like 'we sell something very similar, its the XXX' that don't add anything to the conversation, and everyone just ignores them.