I have been put off by many things:
1: The method of change of ownership (As a group all members should be informed rather than a behind the scenes dealing).
2: The old site needed regulation but it just went from virtually nil to insanely ridiculous with over deletion of posts.
3: The holier than thou attitude of certain members who attack others rather than help.
4: The thinned skinned rule that prohibits commenting on how the site is run. It is a forum and people should be allowed to air their views within reason without them being deleted.
5: The double standard in advertising rules. For example sponsors posting in forum categories other than for sale with posts like "Just made this, will be adding them to our new line of....". I agree sponsors are great for the site but when you buy an advertisement it shouldn't allow you immunity in breaching the advertising rules that everyone else has to abide by. I remember a comment by a moderator saying how they were over people posting in the wrong categories, well all advertisement belongs either in the banners purchased or the "For Sale" section.
I know my post will be deleted because it will breach so many ridiculous rules that prohibit this site being a Forum but had make it a Dictatorship and hence the reason why myself and several friends either don't post here or have left. Only time will tell if this site will ever regain the popularity it once had.
Rather than delete your post, I'll address some of your concerns. I don't expect it to change your views however I am hopefully it might explain some things in the interest of honesty.
1. The site changed hands to keep it running and functional after the issues that plagued it. At that time (and still) my efforts and time were devoted to resurrecting lost content and ensuring we weren't caught out again. As this was all at my own cost and effort with the help of a few others, I did not feel the need to promote the new ownership until I had something positive to back up my post with so that people could see an effort was being made and I wasn't looking for my own 2 minutes of fame.
2. New mod blood and an increase in mods will do that. I'll apologise openly if people thought I was part of the problem.
3. Fair call however that also brings up point 2 of your post. Would it be construed as over moderation of the site if we deleted the posts? I agree that the site needs better manners and we didn't handle it in the best way possible however that leaves us room for improvement
4. This will be changing and I have hopefully encouraged feedback with the newly created feedback forum as well as multiple posts asking people to PM me if they prefer. However we need to bear in mind that the site is run for a group of people, not individuals.
5. Sponsors pay for the privilege of advertising their products anywhere in the forum. I will concede that some posts went over the top however if it did not detract from the thread content. Some folks don't care for banners or know where the sponsor list is and some folks may have been using Tapatalk which does not show banners and information.
I did not take over APS to make money nor did I do it to make a name for myself. I took over the site and its content to ensure it stayed up for the Reptile Keepers & Enthusiasts of Australia to share their opinions, insights and views and to encourage new keepers while at the same time having an open resource that's easier to navigate than Facebook.
Whats been done is done and its going to be a hell of a long road forward and the best I can offer to the membership of APS is that I will try to fix up what I can however I can't promise to fix it all.
Stuart