Thought I better respond as the OP.
Before posting the thread I did scan the first couple of pages for a similar thread but couldn’t see one.
For the record I think the site design is good. Infact, the ease of navigation to the parts I’m interested in are the reason I no longer spend time on PB or BR.
I see no need for the mag banners though. It’s well publisied on the site without taking up a third of the page, every page. Having the banners is more likely to stop me using the site then sign up for the mag.
As for the other ads, I think the main problem is that they are getting fancier and there’s loads of different ones all doing their own thing. It slows my laptop so much it’s hardly worth logging on. Also, after the banner and ads there’s very little screen room left for actual forum threads.