Welcome to TGO, Mike. If you hang around long enough, you'll likely come to realize the benefit of a Benefactor membership. Unlike other local classified websites, TGO offers a feedback system, much like eBay. This is very helpful in keeping members honest, allowing you to buy, sell and trade with some peace of mind.
Generally speaking, TGO is a pretty close community. For many of us, TGO is a home away from home. Unlike some of the "national" forums, many of us actually know each other, hang out together, help each other, and act much like any other sometimes dysfunctional family.
We've had some of the TGO Authorized Vendors offer perks to Benefactors, often making the membership well worth while. On top of that, and probably most importantly, the minimal (especially if you bite the bullet for the one-time Lifetime Benefactor Membership) fee allows the site owner to keep TGO up and running as well as he does. While some members may not want to admit it, I'm pretty sure the suicide rate in Tennessee would skyrocket if TGO were to ever be shut down for good.
As a welcome to TGO, a Thank You for your service, and an early Christmas present, I will pay for your very first Benefactor membership. I'm confident you'll renew.