Hm.. just a few thoughts here
About "we" feeling getting lost in the site. I do of course not know the reason for this, but there is one thing, I have learned (or is it just me, in far away Switzerlnd?): "We" - feeling comes only when you are active !!
That means, making comments on photos, making contact to people. A comment like "Beautiful photo" or such, might perhaps not be a real high-end professional comment, but it can lead to something, like a contact, for fellow hobbyists. Now, I have seen, that some people like to do this, and it's nice to have a contact. Some others, are not bothered by this, and they are not interested a bit, in conversation, exchanging topics about photography and such. This is their own thing of course, but those ones - complaining that there is no "we"-feeling ? Then perhaps time, to get a bit active in a social way ?
About too much "garbage" on the site, I think this is best forwarded to webmaster, so perhaps the process of selection by admins can be changed. Of course we try, to keep any garbage away from the site, but if there is a need to adjust rules, of course, such can be considered.
Of course there is not anything wrong, if someone decides that this site is not nice anymore. There are hundreds of possibility, provided by the internet, and I think, there is one that fits, for everyone !!! Most important is, that you do find a way, to be satisfied with how you are doing your hobby, and perhaps, if you do really not find any suitable site, forum etc., you have a brand new idea, to create something, just right for you.
There is always something, that is not perfect. I had spent alot of time, being creative with bad language, because the new system was a bit hard for me, but in the end, it's good. Not perfect, but good.
Just some members make me smile, and they are the ones who go on about, deleting photos, never post again, and in the end, they come back and keep on posting
This makes me giggle, because I think then, in the end, it is not at all as bad, as it is looking !!
So, I think - we are on a good way, with our photos here. For the rest, who is not satisfied, I wish they might find a way of satisfaction themselfes, and continue a happy hobby life