may I suggest we try a buisness/product review section on this site? It works well on a number of other forums that I cruise by from time to time, and it helps keep the other areas free of clutter.
I think that shameless plugs (as in my blade kite and me are the best things ever) should still be against the rules, but reviews and heads up such as "half price sale at airtime this week" or "free hug with kite purchase at bkb" could be very helpfull to our small community.
as well as reviews both positive or negative as in "north shore ski and board went out of their way to help me out" or "pacific boarder special ordered me a great deal on a fire wire surfboard" or "westcoast kollective gave me herpies"