I think one reason is that it is on a dedicated server. That means you have the whole server to yourself (I think). If a site has A LOT of traffic (many, many visitors) a dedicated server means that content comes up quickly for all visitors. One could research where the break point is in terms of requests-per-hour and "slowdown-factor".

How much do you pay per month for your Free Planet website?

Sites without too much traffic can exist happily on servers which feed many other sites at the same time.

Another consideration, I think, would be security issues. With a dedicated server only one person (webmaster) has access to that disk. I imagine a non-dedicated server would be easier for a hacker to hack. It would also be more vulnerable to denial-of-service attacks (flooding it with requests) since it is very busy already serving many websites.

Of course, RMN got hacked anyway somehow, and the archives destroyed, a total disaster. The hackers and viruses always seem to stay a few steps ahead.

: I mean...

: SURELY...

: there are cheaper ways to do what "Rumor Mill News"
: is doing. It can't cost that much each month to run a
: message board .