Personally speaking I hope the guys who own this site do make some money. They have had a good idea and stuck with it and that should be applauded. I've been a not very active member since it's pre basschat days (bassworld?). I'm a bit embarrassed to say I didn't donate any cash until just before the fees came in, which i payed as well. I kept meaning to but just didn't get round to it. The introduction of the fees just served as a reminder that I should pony up some dough for a site I visit most days.
In saying that there is no denying that some members are put off by the fees, everyone's situation is different and I'm not criticising anyone. I dunno if the fees system is the best one but I suppose you have to balance between making some cash, pissing off existing members and discouraging new users. It seems to me to be a reasonable solution.
I have noticed the marketplace being a wee bit slow but everyone is a bit cautious at the moment. It is a really useful resource on the site so I hope it picks up.