while it was likely the politics and other trash that have driven its decline.

I don't think it is that simple. Other trash...can be entertaining now and then. And politics... I don't think politics in general is necessarily a problem. Upholding more or less forgotten journalistic standards (truthfulness, accuracy, objectivity, impartiality, fairness and public accountability) may provide a fertile ground for controversial, but still levelheaded discussions. But the biased propaganda, which goes as 'politics' on /. poisons every community. It is repulsive for more clear thinking members, but attracts at the same time fanatics and crackpots. Of course, fanatics and crackpots might generate more clicks, so this kind of audience might be favoured by /.'s owners.

Anyways, I like the stories here... though I wish there would be some more. Not that this is a complaint...