Some days, when I want news, I have to ignore posts on drugs (always so edifying), posts about how Bush has sold out, caved, is a socialist, etc.
To my mind, these are just as bad, if not worse than the cheese threads. They are long-running arguments filled with vitriol. I choose to ignore them.
So why should I give money to be segregated away from news (speaking of ATRW here) and yet these people will put their commentary in the news forum? (And you KNOW they will.)
Bingo. That's why this will hurt the forum in more ways than just cheesing folks off.