The biggest loss of regular members here almost certainly came back in 2003-04 when independent conservative/nationalist Freepers were being banned because they had the audacity to call out that retarded baboon George W. Bush over the ill-fated Iraq invasion.
Such banning ranges from stupid to tyrannical, although a lot of those who were banned may not have been financial contributors since that was still in the "everything is free on the internet" days. It was also likely before the software could show who had been lurking for years (as the site was still relatively new) and which accounts were fictitious accounts designed to influence the 2024 election.
Banning either side is self-destructive, but withholding financial support only helps the enemy who wants to shut down Constitutional supporters. Not that we wan't "Pay to Play" but donating is an indicator of individuals versus who's running multiple accounts, paid for by USAID or other tax money laundered through foreign governments.