People puzzle about why Hoods are gaining popularity while groups tend to dwindle, and of course the answer is simple.

You don't have to join the hoods to post there. I think they are more like the open boards of AS and here at AW. I for one am more likely to post somewhere where I can instantly respond, rather than go through the initiation process of joining a group, and then what if you have to be a level 2 to post, but you never make it there because the group leader is away for whatever reason.

I do like your idea Jot of being able to cull some groups. I found myself joining a group because it looked interesting, posted once or twice, then one day I logged on to find that I was promoted and the group was deserted, litterally. I was in fact the only member left in this particular group, of which I only had little interest to begin with.

Perhaps there are posts of interest for certain people in this group still which said people would hate to see deleted, or perhaps they could care less.

Who knows? All I know is that I tried to ressurect this group, but to little avail.