Some people actively participate but rarely if ever start a thread.

Most of my questions can be answered via the search function.

I will when I have a question to pose to the forum that wasn’t already answered.

I've found that threads I've started that ask for something specific are pretty well responded to and answered. But ones that are more opinion based or ask for feedback on a certain component inevitably devolve into pissing contests. 

Speaking for myself, I have had a 50+ year career in the mines of audio retail, and have been an active hobbyist as well, but never wealthy, so my experiences are of little interest to the big spenders on this site.  Furthermore my hearing is no longer laboratory grade, so my opinions about sound are no longer empirical.  Add to that, my digital audio knowledge is rudimentary at best.  So I comment where I have something to contribute, and that’s it.

I think that's fine!! We all have our own way of participating.  I mean, really, do you want EVERYONE starting a thread?  :D