Okay... Let's have a "show of hands" on who else feels the same as Clifton and Gary. Personally, I haven't been subjected to any more spam since I joined this list than before and have no problems getting my Loop mail because of the ads.
I read all the Topica lists that I subscribe to "on the web" (no email) and thus have seen no change and no ads. It's such an easy way to read the list, post to it, skip ones you don't want, etc, it was hard for me to conceive that people would use Email, but that's apparently how most people do it judging by the feedback.
So I'll go whichever way people want, here or somewhere else; won't be a change either way for me. I just appreciate the fact that someone is providing a server, storage space, admin software, time spent administering, all that.
Hey, you can at LEAST give us the initials of this "nameless" guy - now you've got everyone wondering who you're talking about.