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I am a serial multi-tasker online, but if something peaks my interest I'll take the time to write out a proper reply.
The problem is, I think, internet culture in general. Rather than work through the real meat of an issue, people prefer to just skim the surface. It's not a medium that encourages investment. Just look at the most popular sites out there -- things like twitter and facebook get all the attention, because they're all about sound bytes. You can read hundreds of tiny messages per day, without having to invest any time or energy into any of them.
TFP, and discussion groups or fora in general, run counter to that. It's all about sitting down and really thinking about what you want to say and how you want to say it.
This is why I'm okay with being a small community. I see nothing wrong with shooting for quality over quantity in our userbase, and if all a potential member is going to contribute is "lol i agree" and "me 2" then I'm just fine with reading threads without having to scroll past that member's posts.
The other aspect is one of personal interest. You'll find a ton of posts from me in the technology forum, but almost none in economics. That's because my own preferences are such. I stick to the things I enjoy, and the most I could offer on the subjects I'm not educated in are the lite responses bemoaned above.
Overall, I could sum it up I think with 'such is the nature of things.'
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I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept
I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept
I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head
I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said
- Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame
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