Would it be beneficial to us to add some sort of autothreadsuck and archive process to when we close threads, allowing for everyone to download the one file, as opposed to doing it ourselves every time?

That's what I've been assuming. My expectation is that once the threadsuck utility is up, DX (or someone else) will suck all the closed threads and put them in the archives. ita will then delete those threads (either from the database or else just from the thread listings). Maybe we'd hold off on deleting recently closed threads, but after some agreed upon period of time (three months?) they'd be removed.

I was expecting the threadsuck utility to be used regularly on active threads, for users who want to catch up by reading offline.

Before we decide to delete, we need to decide what happens to links to threads that are deleted (really, I'd like to take the records out of the database). And also to be aware that they'll be unsearchable if we do so.

Good points.

we need to decide what happens to links to threads that are deleted

You know what would be cool? If a link points to a thread id that's been archived, a screen could appear that linked to the archived and zipped thread. There'd be an explanatory message, of course.

That would require putting some intelligence behind the location of the zipped threads -- for immediate use, we could just redirect to the archives page with all of them? It's kinda rude, but it's my first reflex.

But, if the discussion goes on long enough, an algorithm will create itself.

That would require putting some intelligence behind the location of the zipped threads

I was thinking of a table that could be easily updated by an admin, but a simple redirect is certainly fine for the short term.

I suppose "threadsuck" might look to the uninitiated like "threadspew" would look to me. I don't remember having that reaction, though.

I just got something in my upper-left corner that said

Welcome,
Rebecca Lizard
+ Log contentidaddpostfinished out

Since it doesn't look as though something crashed and burned within me, I just am amused by that.

That's too surreal. Those are names of form variables on the showthread page.

I got this quote:

You were very nearly devoured by a giant demon snake. The words 'let that be a lesson' are a tad redundant at this juncture.

Giles, 'Never Kill A Boy On The First Date'

And I know it's not from NKBoTFD. I tried to search MP, but you can't phrase search, and it's too damn difficult. But I know it's not from that ep, because the whole giant demon snake thing was at least Season Three, and a search for the text "giant demon snake" in NKBotFD gave nothing.

because the whole giant demon snake thing was at least Season Three, and a search for the text "giant demon snake" in NKBotFD gave nothing.

You're half-right. There have (sadly) been many a giant demon snake on BtVS. This one appeared in season two's "Reptile Boy."