jayvt3, this is a very interesting dicussion. I'm not really interested in talk of who got banned by who or your idea of a "American SFC Modol" game show idea, but I do agree with you on one thing.... in the past I have seen some outstanding Model designs and some really terrible ones aswell!
I won't list any Models by people on this board that are terrible. Ya, there are occasionally a few Models I have seen listed on these forums that don't make much sense, but these models are more Artwork then a Engeneering Class so I give most modelers a benefit of the doubt. And this is a good thing about this forum, it allows a lot of creativity in some of the designs I have seen.
But I do definitly agree with your opinions on some of the Paramont Ships that have been made over the recent years. Ships like the Akira, Norwary (well... maybe not the Norwary), Steamrunner, etc., they feel like they were put together with Glue or something! I never liked these ships that much and actually only Prefer the Intrepid, Defiant, and maybe Soverign Class as the only great Post TNG Designs I have seen lately. It really sadens me when I see people try too make a ship or Kitbash based on the Akira or the Steamrunner and I don't even think those are great designs too begin with.
sigh... oh how I miss the days when Paramont made ships more like the Enterprise-D and such.