Yep, forums were small when the web was small. Once the web got bigger so did forums and the problems that came with it. After that the spam, hacking, and DDOS just got out of control. The tools for any one individual to make your life hell are just that much better these days.

Forums died all the time back then because the admin got tired of the mess. People these days would be far less tolerant of joining these small groups and pouring time into them, only to have them disappear a few months later.