I think this is a great forum. Anywhere you turn there will be some folks with their own negative views, but by and large this is a great group and I am thankful for it!
I also think there is a real opportunity for a resurgence of ASL. I am 34 and have a number of friends that are interested in and are learning the rules. These are folks who have played eurogames, D&D, etc. and who would like something with some meat to it, no rule ambiguity, and depth to really invest in and enjoy. They also all have an interest in history, of course, but I think one great thing about ASL is that you can enjoy history, or games, or both and it's attractive to you.