The new FAQs appear to be working to help both new posters and regular users of the site--but could use more help in bumping them to keep them on front page.
Anyone can bump a pseudo-sticky, at any time, the more bumps the better they work.
Some newbie posters browse the site but don't like to post a question, and the FAQ and other boldface "pseudo-stickys" help them since they can get answers without having to post a question, if they prefer.
And it helps the regular users because it reduces the number of FAQ/frequently asked questions that get tiresome to keep answering a hundred times.
So everyone comes out ahead.
But we could use more help in bumping the boldface pseudo-sticky topics.
Anyone can bump the stickys.
You just go to the topic, click Post A Reply like you normally would to reply to any topic.
Then type "bump" or a blank character (hit the space bar), or a little snappy saying if you want, and click Post.
This brings the pseudo-sticky up to the top of the list.
The goal has been to keep the pseudo-stickys in the top third or top half of the first page, on each of the six boards. (when people come to the site, their browser is only showing them the top third or half of page 1)
On some travel forums, bumping is not encouraged or even prohibited. Here, the Webmaster allows (even encourages, I think) bumping of the pseudo-stickys, until such time as the RS/ETBD staff has the time to do a comprehensive reprogramming of the entire site.