Well, guess who the richest person in the community is? *evil laugh* So, no, I don't think FP is important.
I love FP. I love it because it allows me to do some of the extra things that require FP. I also think it is a good incentive to post regularly. Of course, the downside is you need to be sure those posts are constructive and not just a means to getting FP. However, even with no FP, I would still remain. I, too, was here before FP and will remain after, if it ever goes away.
Edited: funbikerchick on 8th Mar, 2005 - 3:46pm
Over the past few years I have noticed that Users that come here seldom do not care much for FP. Users that use the site frequently are more concerned about FP maybe due to the fact that they give themselves more time to explore the features. There are users that have never even touched the FP, but they do post, you can see that there only interest is discussion which really has nothing to do with FP.
I have also found that users who are FP addicts usually spread themselves thin - meaning that their curiosity about a feature, especially a new one, leads them to spend FP on it only to realize that they may have need of FP elsewhere also.
I have a lot of fun with the FP! I think it's great that we can earn them, spend them, steal them, convert them, etc. I was here before the advent of FP, just for the discussions and friendships. Great concept, and at first I didn't really notice all that much. But now that there are so many features they can be used for, I really enjoy it and I watch my "in pocket" balance rather closely --- I really hated it when I had some stolen, and when I lost a *bunch* for letting my Munjpet die... that was just awful.
I know it's silly, but I really love my FP!
As one of the newest members I like the FP system. Mainly I like the ability to be able to earn some additional features. If there were no FP's I would still post the same. I have so far found the level of conversation better here than on some of the other boards I have been a member of.
Most point systems are generally ignored either because it takes too many points to do anything or the features to spend them on are not even tempting. I hope that we are able to do the opposite here by having items in which the 'poor' guy can spend his FP on (like Arcade, Lottery and Forum Symbols) and many features which actually encourage you to save them for a later day (like the more expensive ones).