[dmitriid]

> But only some of that was paid by ads.

Ah yes. They were paid by altruists who had the foresight to know that 30 years later they will be able to track everyone and collect their dues.

[mrtksn]

Those who relied on making profits were decimated as VC funded user experience was much superior. It was an era of land-grab.

[dmitriid]

Those who relied on anything were decimated in the bubble of 2001.

Also, you're pretending that all of those sites were making a profit, or operated under the assumption of making a profit. There was a lot of money thrown at any and all internet companies by the end of 1990s. It's just that the market was much smaller.