Yeah, in a way.

What merging on-topic with The Basement does is makes it hard for people to want to be serious and post "Serious" or "Smart" topics.

I mean, if I join a "section" and see a bunch of threads about rooms and girlfriends and polls and hair products and "whats your desktop" and stuff like that, it's not going to make me be creative and make a nice in depth post about something serious.

I'm not dissing The Basement, we love those nice light easy to read and fun to laugh with / be a part of topics, BUT I think the On-Topic section was good because you'd view it and instantly be transformed from Basement-Mode to somewhat serious-mode and forced to think, or not post at all.

*shrug*