Gimmicks may be good for them, but I find the best performing programs are often those that are low-key and consistent; keeping the same overall look/feel for many years - if it ain't broke, why break it ...
ARS v6 generation 1 (there are still two more iterations to go just in v6; all for naught quite really since ARS will likely switch everything again next year) ... anyways it's going to continue to be a long bumpy road for webmasters who depend on ARS ... between new interfaces, program changes, and all the related problems.
On a related thought, I sure hope GFY doesn't copy the "we were hacked" gimmick ... though I have to say, in closing, that the ARS "all your base" shockwave video is funny though
Ron