Quote - I only go there (ShareCG) from here so I go direct to the DL page. The DL page has the DL link is right there on top before the ads/item's image loads and I click 'cause I know what it looks well enough from the thumbnail here and don't need to see it again. The line of Google ads are text only and they are off to the side, not above the item I want to downdload. The comments are below, not above the item I want to download. So for me, I see a difference between the experiences. - but that's just me. Also, AFAIK, ShareCG has had that design for a while, they didn't just suddenly spring an ad maze on their users. Even if they did, I only joined to thank folks for their items. I feel no sense of loyalty of community there, they don't have a precious spot on my favorites bar so I probably don't care as much what they do. 

Aside from the sites that make you do a faux purchase I can't think offhand of any Poser or 3D related site that requires three pages for a download. Even Poser Club's 2nd page "Your Cockie is OK" is at least unintentionally amusing.

Jen, most of us have been here long enough to know that the mods are not responsible for these decisions. If anything it sounds like this is more a case of them being used as cannon fodder than usual - 'Have a nice weekend. Oh BTW, we totally reamed freestuff so you may get a few complaints. Ta.'. At least Ari Fleischer got to eat at the Whitehouse mess.

Ok, all good points, and I forgot about the folder renaming (which Jani is DEFINITELY determined to fix), and the download button being down below (another thing Jani is determined to have fixed.)  My hope is the extra redundant popup window will be removed as well.  Other than that, here's the thought process:
You want to share your freestuff everywhere.  You can host it here, link to the actual page the free item is on (For instance, if I wanted to directly share my DS lights, I'd link to here), and voila.  Yes, people have to register (tried it in 3 different browsers), I don't think they're going to remove that. 

Sitemail | Freestuff | Craftythings | Youtube|

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it into a fruit salad.