A few days ago when I read of Imaging Resource's impending closure, that saddened me. I have used that site for many years, particularly between 1999 and 2013. I got into digital photography back in 1998 (over 20 years ago)- using my organisation's Kodak digital camera. The camera was 0.3 megapixels - 640x480 pixels and was super slow to focus. ( I was already 'digitally scanning' photographs made from film for many years before that, though)!
Imaging Resource was one of the websites that helped me decide on my path to get my 'very own' digital camera, a Fuji Finepix point and shoot in 1999, then upgrade over the next few years, and next take the step to get into DSLRs since 2005. Their 'comparometer' was often open on my PC computer screens over the years. Dave Etchells and his team provided consistent information relating to cameras for many years. I have still used IR's site in recent years, but not quite as much as I used to.
Farewell, IR - though as Dave has indicated, there may be a 'IR v2.0' that survives, continues, in a somewhat different format to what IR is now. So there is some hope that Dave and/or some of the existing staff will be around to provide some of the objective data and testing results to the world through the internet (somehow...) but with less effort and resources required than are currently required in the existing format.
While I'm on the nostalgic theme, back in the early 2000's, Steve's Digicams was THE warmest forum and most beneficial group of photographers who offered support, advice, critique, and a place to share photos (albeit at a reduced resolution, but that was 'ok back then' - as our monitors weren't anywhere near HD even!) The group of us that contributed daily and helped many new photographers enter the world of (digital) photography and grow in their skills is something I still miss today. We often referred to Steve's Digicams, DPReview and IR for their helpful data when upgrading our own gear; and/or providing advice to forum / photography newcomers on what camera to buy (that best suited their needs and within budget, etc).
Having written that, the photography world is still a super exciting one, and as a middle aged guy, I enjoy being a photographer - and sharing skills, continuing to learn (yes, we can all continue to grow in our skills) - and I am very glad that Canon Rumors has become part of my regular online photography community in more recent years. It's a fantastic time to be a photographer, even basic smart phones and P&S cameras of today, let alone more advanced cameras - can do SO much more than that first Kodak digital I used back in the late 90's! Peace, everyone!