This being the only forum I have been involved in, I can't compare, but I can offer comment, I think in the main it is fairly balanced, I think keeping politics from letters works for me, I am very interested in the political side and learning much from it, but I like to swap to letters, not that they are less important just more interesting, in my opinion that is, I have noticed that there are far more views than there are replies, which prompted this thread I suppose, maybe encourage at least one reply per ten views. One liner's are good for bringing in a bit of humour, always a good thing, I think, although some are cryptic and leave me a bit baffled, but that's just me I think, bit thick.
I am not an expert on forums, but I think you are doing great job PaulB I enjoy it anyway.