ACIDized: The other point being, despite so many advertizes of 2wapworld. No new members are keen to stay here.
If you haven't considered this. New members are more like to get badgered by Shout Box dramas. Just think about it. You sign up a chat / forum only to confront to some drama on the home page. Most sites don't have shout boxes and they do well. Instead of hiding the staff list. It would've better of without the shout box. I know there is a setting to turn it off. But most new guys won't know that. Or you can turn it off by default for new users instead of completely removing it. It's just my insight. I know a lot wont agree.

A bold suggestion indeed, and not without merit I think. However swiftly we move to resolve misuse of the shout, I can imagine how it could be intimidating for a newcomer to wander in only to experience such an immediate introduction to community politics.