I went to login to reply to this and realized that though I've been lurking for years, I've never made an account. So to answer your question, you are the reason for new members, at least this one in particular.
But in all seriousness, I've been reading about the "pipe renaissance" for a number of years now. As more people are interested in the hobby, it only makes sense that they would, at some point, end up on this website. It is a fantastic resource that I've used to learn more about manufacturers, styles, techniques, and to get a general consensus on a plethora of pipe-related topics. It also doesn't hurt that this community is generally friendly and welcoming (at least when they aren't trying to start hypocritical generation wars with younger enthusiasts)
Good to finally talk to you mso! You're considered a bit of a legend in the pipe community based purely on your guruship on this site. Hopefully this won't be our last correspondence.