At the risk of sounding like a big baby, this event has always felt very exclusive. When I first joined years ago, I had no idea what was even going on and seeing everyone discuss things with special knowledge that new members wouldn't get feels very alienating. If the event was presented in the sense that it's more for veteran members who would know what is up it'd be different, but it's always came across as everyone is welcome. Which we all are, but you aren't getting far if you don't know the forum lore that only long time members or a group with a full network of popular friends/members would be able to get.
I already see a lot of new members saying what I thought but was too afraid to say back then at the risk of sounding like a complainer. But seeing so much of this is kind of disheartening. You don't want to alienate your new members so they don't feel welcome like that. This forum won't last long with that kind of mentality because eventually the core group will move on. It may take a year or more, but I'm already seeing lots of members who I thought would've been for a long time leaving.