In reply to Michael Pate.

The Movable Type folk should write a book on how to kill your own platform in one easy step.

When I first started out, I remember a lot of people recommending it instead of WordPress. But it looked pretty clear back then that they were doing a lot to hurt their own platform/business. I never thought they would completely kill it like they have though.

They weren't the only platform to practically destroy themselves though. I really liked the SMF community back then, but it shot itself clear in the face multiple times, and is now just a shadow of it's former self.

The WordPress community has made plenty of oopsies over the years, but they've always been kept well on track IMO. I think Matt Mullenweg has done an excellent job of keeping the basic project loosely direction heading in a coherent direction. Without that guidance I think it could easily have plowed off a cliff like some of these other platforms did.