Given the limitations of the owners, how has 2+2 become and remained such a big force in the forum world

[XteraveX]

That doesn't really answer the question. I mean I understand why Donkdown/NW never really competed given its mostly unmoderated nature that would turn most people off. However, how come none of the other message boards with owners that were much more compelling figures in the poker world (ie Daniel N's forum) were able to compete with 2+2? What exactly was it that David and Mason did right to make sure they started out on top and stayed on top all these years?

Twoplustwo had a huge lead on everyone. Aside from rec gambling poker there was nothing out there. Twoplustwo was around long before poker was cool and as such capitalized hugely. If you wanted to talk poker strategy is was pretty much the only choice and where the smartest guys hung out. On top of it there was tons of cross promotion with the forum and other activities.

People underestimate the sheer size of twoplustwo. They have sub forums which are larger than most message boards.

the rec gambling poker message board crap thing that used to be out there up until around 2001....can't really remember.... may still even be around.... but doyle brunson and negreanu used to post on it along with some of the big names.... i guess malmuth (asshat) and sklansky must have made a better design and people fled to it.