I wasn't here when they first took it away, so I really can't say why. What I can say is.. it was a group discussion that admins had together smoothing over the positives and negatives of this new rule and we decided to implement it.

Again, you can link to tutorials and sites that help other members. I know you and the VP had an in-depth conversation about this, @3dmobster. He had stated his points and cases on why we implemented it in the first place.

Here are some of the questions/points he made in the Vendor forum:

So, let's get to the true premise of your argument and stop dealing with pretexts. Provide me the reason(s) why it is more suitable for a member to have to click a link and go to a third party site to download a freebie rather than click a link that takes them to our existing Free Stuff area, since that member is already on the site, to download the Free Item that has been reviewed by our staff to be safe? Tell me how the third party option makes more sense and provides an equal or greater sense of security and privacy for the member by leaving the site to download an item from a site they are likely not familiar with otherwise? Secondly, what is the purpose of having a Free Stuff area if it is to be circumvented by members providing links to third party sites to get Free Stuff. How does that improve Renderosity site traffic and make the process more simple, safe, and convenient for the member if they are just coming here to sort through links to go to a third party website to get free items completely bypassing the already existing Free Stuff area?

Thanks.

Hope Kumor

Editor-in-chief of Renderosity Magazine