Well....I have been playing around with Active Rain for about 7 months, so I am not in the big leagues of AR yet, but I am slowly catching on......  I did sign up a couple of years ago, but I through in the towel with frustration, but decided to give it a shot since the world was falling apart. During the 7 months, I have been quite confused as to why some people use this site; whereas, other agents are the most wonderful agents in the world (save me) and would take a bullet for you, and they don't know you.  Well, maybe a bit overkill (pun intended), but you get the point. 

These are MY TOP 15 reasons for using or not Active Rain in the order of preference.  This will likely differ from yours as I can't even spell HMTL HTML:

T O P    FIFTEEN    R E A S O N    " T O "    U S E    A C T I V E    R A I N

1. To improve internet branding.  Is this a bit self centered.  Yes, but when people Google my streets in my farm I am everywhere via Active Rain or Localism.
2. The basic level is free.  I have always liked free.  It tends to be cheaper.
3. To learn new technology: this can be overwhelming, but it is a great source
4. The detailed feedbackyou get from some agents is wonderful & they have put their heart, soul and time into it.
5. To learn different marketing techniques in different parts of the country
6. To learn about different parts of the country
7. To inspire others to move to the next level in their career
8. To help others become better agents
9. To improve writing skills
10. To improve creativity
11. To prove to the doubtersthat blogging can be very effective
12. To get people to tweet you (though I don't know why they do; but you can add to my tweeter list)
13. To help build optimism in the world.
14. To gain clients from Localism (Still waiting for lead #1, so that is why it is#14 on the list)
15. To gain referrals from Active Rain (Still waiting on my first, so that is why it is #15)

 T O P    T E N    R E A S O N    " T O    N O T "    U S E    A C T I V E    R A I N

1. Trying to succeed at beating people in Active Rain versus beating people in selling homes (what do I get if I win?)
2. Replying with 3 word feedbacks, like "great blog dude" (probably the same folks from #1)
3. 50 word blogs (can you really help someone with 50 words?  Perhaps the same folks from #1 & #2)
4. Agents telling everyone how great they are.  (A bit hypocritical as I have been on of those rotten agents, but I am getting better.)
5. To speak over the heads of peoplewith internet lingo that few understand.  (If a grandmother can't understand what you are saying, most don't understand either."KISS")
6. Wordless days (That one leaves me speechless)
7. Top 10 Lists (Top 15 lists are OK)
8. To find out the weatherin Anchorage Alaska.  (We know its cold, we don't need a blog)
9. Announcing that you have hit 1 billion points in Active Rain
10. As a means to steel blogs or pictures and post them elsewhere
11. To use as a political platform
12. To vent with agents
13. You are failing at real estate and you don't know what else to do
14. Your spouse is driving you nuts and you need to get away
15. To tell us about nonconstructive useless things.