Frequent announcements are good because they force people to ask themselves if they really want to be a part of a community or not.

Good for community builders and community members.

Yes! 

Channels are communities now. If you don’t like how they are run, stop following. You’ll still see casts from people you follow if they cast there.

Channels feel more cozy, intimate, special and "selected" now. More direct. 

Now it's up to the channel owners to create a sense of belonging + a shared goal as the next step towards creating a strong community