I personally don't know the history of the site, having joined recently, but reading through the posts on this thread alone I gather that it has been running under one name or another for over a year.
That is a year where the site owner (Jay?) has initially set the site up, maintained the site, carried the cost of setting up and maintaining the site, with others has moderated the site and all without expecting payment.
The chances are that there is a full time job in there somewehere too so add on giving up loads of personal time to keep the site going.
£5 is not a fortune (2 pints and a packet of crisps?) and I would suggest that the current membership is such that any monies raised would not be enough for one to live in luxury in the Maldives for the rest of ones days.
Any surplus cash can be used for a number of things. Donation to Service Charities, held in reserve for Site/hardware improvements , making covert payments to supportive Rockapes

or spending it on Wine, Women and Song and wasting any that's left over.
The choice is simple. Pay and stay or don't pay and leave. Me? I'm staying.
P.S. If anyone dares to suggest I am supporting Royals in any venture I will deny it vehemently. This post is simply proof that my medication is not strong enough!!