Well, each thread runs its course sooner or later. What you say is not wrong, it just means we go with whatever the thread provides and if its exhausted we wait for the next one.
It's sort of like the bug report and request threads: they run for a long time but they don't generate a few dozen responses every day.
The whole idea behind the thing is that we post when we have something relevant to the topic to add, not just for the sake of it, because that's what usually tends to degenerate into circular arguments, tiresome repetition of the same topics and flame wars between detractors and supporters of certain aspects of the sim.
And that's what really makes the thread something that it wasn't meant to be, a sort of "playground" for all of us to talk about everything except the update when we are bored. Then, another guy comes along and tries to find the relevant information, whether it's a lot or just a few snippets, and simply can't because he has to sift through 30 pages of completely unrelated discussions, usually between the same dozen people who are arguing among themselves on each week and all through the week.
If the information is not enough or its potential exhausted, we don't have to forcefully keep a thread going by adding unrelated arguments and our own personal speculation on top of it.
These threads should be somewhat "clinical" in nature: a report of dev updates and a Q&A process. There is a useful array of sub-forums that are suitable to hold general discussion threads, as well as PM messages to facilitate communication between members who want to talk among themselves.
I see the thread still goes the way it used to go before and i'm having to go light on it because frankly, nobody cooperates and if i start applying the rules almost everyone will be banned due to infraction points.
I think you will agree that it's a quite sad reflection on our discussion capabilities as a community, when we are limited to choosing between bending the rules or "herding" the posters.
It would be much easier and more adult-like if everyone could simply be a gentleman and we just followed some sane, posting etiquette.