I think you certainly may have a point. I think there was a big increase in fandom activity away from message boards and websites in late 2003/early 2004 - perhaps not coincidentally when LJ started giving away free accounts.
To name a name, I think FictionAlley sees much less traffic now than it used to in its heyday (2002-2005ish). Without going into the changing fandom opinions about its most prominent board members, I think this is mostly due to the more-accessible LJ. More fic gets posted here, there's generally more discussion - there's generally more of a community feel which can't be replicated on a message board.
(I need to get back into fandom! I only have one Harry Potter icon now!)
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To name a name, I think FictionAlley sees much less traffic now than it used to in its heyday (2002-2005ish). Without going into the changing fandom opinions about its most prominent board members, I think this is mostly due to the more-accessible LJ. More fic gets posted here, there's generally more discussion - there's generally more of a community feel which can't be replicated on a message board.
(I need to get back into fandom! I only have one Harry Potter icon now!)