I am rather new. Why pay the money? I generally find myself in GQ, and there I find the people nice, helpful, and real. Elsewhere, generally the same. People here really want to help, educate, further the battle against ignorance.
While, I am still (and always) against spending money for any internet activity, I have made this my first exception.
Anybody else?
Because I’ve been enjoying the bejeesus out of the board for nearly five years now, and I finally had the opportunity to support it financially. As I said when the subject first came up, I consider it back dues.
Compared to many (most?) other Dopers, I don’t post a lot—I may have one of the lowest post ratios among long-time members—but what I have learned here has been invaluable.
Sexy parties and hot Doperchicks!.. Oh and Lynn Bodoni has my soul trapped in a little glass bottle where it flutters like a homeless moth.
I met my wife here. It helps me to remember.
I drink to forget.
I met my fiancé here. I couldn’t just up and leave after what this place has done for me.
Two reasons:
I figure I owe it.
Keep this damn thing going for at least one more year.
I figure that over the course of a year, this message board will probably cause me to spend at least two drinks worth of time here, rather than drinking at a bar, so at $5, it should save me money.
My brother mistakenly paid for my subscription. He saw a thread in my history while using my computer and thought he was doing me a favor. I hate him for this…
Small joke. This is my site where I can come and read posts by seriously intelligent people who WRITE and goddamn if I don’t like good writing. I have a low post-count/membership time ratio. That’s just 'cause I think the folks on this board get opinions advanced and questions answered faster and better than I could. But I do love to read. $5 is a small price to pay for me to get off an occasional bon mmot.
I’ve enjoyed lurking here, unregistered, for a logn while. I thought subscribing would be a spiffy way to support the forums, and could incite me to get out here and throw in my $.02.
And here I am today! 
Thanks,
CxP.
Well, at first I wasn’t going to, but there are so many smart, funny people here to whom I’ve become accustomed over the last year that it would have been stupid of me to just up and quit. There isn’t anywhere else like the SDMB. Even if I don’t have any buddies here yet, there is a possibility that I might gain some. If it’s any of you reading this, it will have been worth staying.
Because $5/year, for the best damn board I’ve ever seen, is a bargain. 
Although I mostly lurk, I figured if I found myself wishing to grow out of my shell and post a bit more it would be better to pay five bucks now than wait and pay fifteen.
Of all my varied addictions, this is the cheapest.
Because I love the people here. It’s worth it just for the Dopefests.
And I’d have paid, if only to spite the “The Board is gonna DIE!!!” whiners.
Because no matter what weird, esoteric, or bizarre question I could possibly ask here, I’m certain to get a clear, rational answer or two. Or three. Or three-hundred. You can’t beat that.
And I’m addicted. I get the shakes and everything.
To gloat in November. Oh yes. The sweaty sack of victory will be waved around with reckless abandon, come the elections in November. (Or the coup in December.)
Don’t make us all regret this, Brutus. 
I’m with Otto et alia – even if the board now descends into total suckhood, the last couple years of (mostly) intelligent debate and diversion have been worth throwing a fiver Cecil’s way. We’ll see how this year goes.
I’ve learned a lot of new things here, not just factual stuff, but people’s opinions on many different issues. It’s allowed me to realize that I am not alone in some of my ways of thinking. Most of all, it’s just a great place and it gives me something to do while I’m at work (besides actual work, of course.)
Probably the best damn five bucks I ever spent.
It’s like two cups of coffee! And when did coffee ever teach me anything or make me laugh?
Well there was that one time I understood quantum mechanics after a particularly potent espresso, but that’s not the point.
To watch people screw up their Thread Titles.