What would you do if the forum had a subscription fee (to post classifieds, etc)?

(I know this would then bring up issues of stock storages, despatching etc, but I'm sure they could be worked round with some volunteer action.)

You should add cashmonies to that list as well. The point of the subscription is to alleviate VB's money worries not create more.

A subscription system would allow for stock / merchandise to be kept as there would be upfront "ready" to use.