The banner ads seem to be a no-brainer. Something easy that will help off-set some costs; if you don't like them- then ignore them. Its a very small price to pay. I frequent a site and the mods every once in a while remind us the bills are due and its time to click on a banner ad. No big deal! Pop-ups suck but many of us have plop up killers anyway (all of us will if you go that route)
Bottom line, you guys have to make the tough decisions. Whatever you need to do to keep this site around let us know and consider it done. This place is worth an annual fee, pop ups, banner ads, whatever.
We don't want to be forced to go to another site and crashing that one- we like it here.