Whether you simply read, or write for the site, there are plenty of hidden gems and activities to make a paid membership worth it. Not ALL stories are great... or even good, readers have to admit that, and it does take a while to find them, but it is very interesting to see some of these authors grow. Unfortunately, there is little external incentive for the authors to take the criticism and actually change their story. The connections and networking are a bonus- as it is quite difficult to find people who enjoy talking about writing outside in the real world.