Does anyone still miss the old Audiogon format?

Who doesn't. I think you are going to find the comments unanimous. Getting too much like ebay.

I don't like the fact that members can't freely email one another to ask questions about gear.

It was MUCH easier to find items in, and surf, the classifieds previously. And YEAH- to ask questions about it too. Don't care from the new format, at all!

You can email members privately now, this feature was brought back some time ago. Just go to "Member Lookup," input the name of who you want to contact and you get a form to send a message to them. I've contacted a few members privately and it seems to work fine.

Yes, but I understand and it is quite clear why they changed the format but I won't get into that, just don't care for their spin for the reasons is all. I see in no way that the new format is better for the user or is more user friendly. Audiogon is, always was and always will be primarily a business for users to buy and sell audio gear and the principals are entitled to run the site any way they choose but it certainly isn't "new and improved" at least from my perspective.