I've been running for several years a large FidoNet and AmigaNet node called [[SystemShockBBS]] in Florence, Italy. At our maximum expansion, we had around 500 registered users, 200 active. Three phone lines, always busy in the evening, and a few voluneer system administrators. The service was 100% free, and financed with donations of users and myself. I've finally shut my node down The project winded down as Internet popularity took over, effectively rendering FidoNet technology networks useless.