The ads do really help to cover some of the costs of running the site.

I have thought about offering an ad-free version on a contribution / membership basis and also maybe tying this thing some sort of 'verified member' scheme (so other people can chose how much trust they put in them - it's harder to have fake identities where a payment has been involved). I've not really got any firm plans though yet.

The main aim is to keep the site free and available for those who need it.

I think I will keep the ads.  Often, they lead to a product or service that I am interested in checking out.  Once I clicked on an ad on this forum because it had Christmas products, and bought some candles for my windows (LED candles, of course).  And there are ads for Freeminds and other apostate sites that I like keeping up to date on.

To me, appropriate ads only add value to the site by linking appropriate product to appropriate topics.  If it helps support the site, that is a bonus--and one more reason I check them out.  I have notice that the more obnoxious ads (that is, the ones that popped up when you hit a key word) have disappeared, and that allows me to emphasize words I choose and not those that someone else chooses.  But, due to the fact that I like to keep up with what help there is for those leaving the Watchtower Society (and, in season, Christmas decorations), I find the ads to be just fine.