This is about MLN, not LU. Just pointing that out.
Derp.
Okay, let's do this again:
I once again feel that the purpose of MLN was to sell Lego sets.
And at least in my case, it didn't work. I have not purchased a Lego set since summer 2008.
I have received sets as gifts since then, and spent plenty of time building, but from then till now all of my expenditures have been in my new primary hobby - gaming (And books. Can't forget books.). As time goes on and I get a car, graduate from high school and head to college, etc. I will be spending money for more practical reasons. What little I will have for frivolous uses will probably continue to go towards gaming or books - probably just gaming; if I can I'll find a library on or near whatever campus I go to and use it instead of buying.
So while MLN was fun, I think in terms of accomplishing its intended purpose it was a failure. I believe that this is why Lego has largely dropped support for it.
-Canama
This, so this. Even the gaming/books over building and not buying sets since 2008. I think MLN was supposed to make kids feel older and feel more like they could buy sets themselves. Which, by extension, make the small gullible kids buy almost anything that was LEGO, good set or good price or not. I and many, many others didn't change their behavior, hence it being abandoned. And so they made LEGO universe, a MMOG (most young kids don't even know the term) that I believe was also supposed to advertise as well as make money.