LOLZ @ ThunderHerd!
OK...to start, one benefit of the upload thread, and a forum, is the ability to post images. Not everyone clicks outside links, some malicious links can be easily disguised, and not everyone clicks linksto look at images posted on another site (example- porn) for that reason. At KAT, my typical rule of thumb was, if there was a discrepancy in file size or format between uploaders who may or may not have shared the same content, or if it was a "new" item being posted, the one that would get the download would be the one who provided images and followed a proper "accepted" protocol. Bots and spammers typically don't waste time and effort going the extra mile to add images and the like. As for "why not look and see if it's a "Trusted Uploader", well... sometimes even a Trusted Uploader gets lazy, or gets hit with a virus.
Why a subforum is better than a thread, I already posted, but for anyone who missed it- not everyone's images are the same size. One page may have 3 uploads listed, while the next page has 10, because some of these images are showing up as full size images, while others are nice and compact. If everyone knew how to resize an image, it would be nice, but some folks either don't get it, or just don't want to take the few seconds it takes. If you have a subforum, and every upload is posted in it's own thread, it takes less time to glance down the recent posts and click on the item you may be interested in, and see the image etc., than it does having to scroll though a page or two of extra-large pictures and tiny thumbs. It also lets you know quickly not only that there are new items posted, but what they are, without having to first look and see if there are new posts in the upload thread, and then scan through the new pages only to see somebody asking questions or holding a conversation in the wrong thread, before you even get to the "meat" of the thread.
Now, as for DUPLICATES... there's good reasons for more than one person uploading the same product, such as different formats (older items came in exe's, for example, not archives), and yes sometimes things get DMCA'd by one person but not another right away, or an item is updated.... HOWEVER, OUR general rule of thumb has been to try NOT to duplicate uploads, because A- they get confusing, B- sometimes file sizes vary and you don't know if someone just forgot to de-spam something, or if it's got a virus, C- some douchebags like to take credit for somebody else's uploads (as if it matters at this point, but hey...some of us are as petty as the "scenes" people...gotta have our tag and gotta be first, LOL!) It's easier to spot duplicates when you can search a subforum for a particular item, and see immediately 2 threads with it.We can also see if it's an update for an item, something with the same name, etc. Then we can notify that uploader either that A- it's already been uploaded, or B- keep your upload if you choose, but remove your post, as it's nothing more than a duplicate...like someone having a library, with the same novels on every shelf. Redundant.
As for FEEDBACK, that is another good thing about a subforum and separate threads for each upload. It gives you the ability to ask questions about the item, or to ask if anyone else is having troubles downloading it (as one needed to do), without taking up unnecessary space with off-topic chatter, as it does when we only have a single thread for all uploads.
The only REAL downside I see is that those threads, just like any other sharing thread, can easily become filled with the same issues we discussed in the other community- unnecessary "Thanks" posts.... grrrrrr.......
That can be solved though, if necessary, in the same manner. (a single,dedicated THANKS thread, I mean....not a flamewar,lol!)
Anyhow, a subforum for uploads does have it's uses to our kind of community in the same way a subforum for requests has for most communities. With Requests, you can see when requests have been filled and can mark them as SOLVED...although it does sort of cut in on the "wishlist" thing we had going. (I never used it personally, and only asked for something when I "needed" it, but that's just my own personality). With Uploads, you get images, feedback, more reliable searching on occasion (no "Database Error" either!
), and for some of us who maybe enjoy or help seed uploads from/for the group, it's a central place to see new uploads by group members ("most" of us use this forum and/or direct people to it when we can), rather than for example, looking for a thread of NEW UPLOADS BY BEAGLEBANDIT, NEW UPLOADS BY THUNDERHERD, NEW UPLOADS BY SATAN.....and several other single threads in another forum that really all serves the same purpose as posting them HERE, in one central location. With us, we're individuals, but we work within the group to serve that group. Most others with "release" threads post either a variety of things like books, movies, music, and games... OR, they are representative of a specific release group. That sort of thing just doesn't suit us. We aren't in it for the vanity, only a couple of us post anything other than Daz/Poser items, we aren't coding or cracking anything, and we only service a niche. It doesn't serve our purposes to each have individual release threads here or elsewhere.
Not sure if this helps, or answers any questions without creating more, but...it's my mindset, from my own experiences here, KAT, and elsewhere.