I am aware of usenet, have been for years. The interafe isn’t nearly as good as accessible as webforums/BBSs. I like to have news downloaded to my own computer so I can search through it at my own leisure and under my own control.

Yes, exactly my point.

NNTP allows you to do this, but its not ubiquitous, web access is. You need an ISP to use NNTP accounts (can’t use it from a public forum) and the files aren’t held there for a long time. Web froums are all better in those areas.

There are newsgroups archives and there is Google Discussions. You can always go back to older posts.

In the times when I have bothered to set up an NNTP reader on my computer, I have been very happy with it. I can quickly go to whatever post interests me.

I find web forums to be much more focussed about narrow subjects then usenet is. I also find web forums to be devoid of spam.

You never need to disclose your real E-mail address in UseNet. Very few people do.

NNTP allows you to do this, but its not ubiquitous, web access is. You need an ISP to use NNTP accounts (can’t use it from a public forum) and the files aren’t held there for a long time. Web froums are all better in those areas.

In the times when I have bothered to set up an NNTP reader on my computer, I have been very happy with it. I can quickly go to whatever post interests me.

I find web forums to be much more focussed about narrow subjects then usenet is. I also find web forums to be devoid of spam. The forums that I particularly like are
Speedtv.com Great Formula 1 forums
Lawnsite.com Great forums for running a lawncare business
Arboristsite.com great forums for tree removal and hopping up chainsaws
Plowsite.com great for snowplowing information