Dreamwidth has a number of features that LJ does not, and is expanding and enhancing at a pace that (IMO) LJ does not match. They are both adding enhancements, but IMO Dreamwidth is showing more growth and better enhancements.
I think the plan to ultimately integrate data from your other sites (if you want it to) is also a huge part of this. (And, since Dreamwidth supports cross-posting now, I can maintain a presence on both sites pretty easily.)
As are cultural differences, to some degree, in how the sites are run. That will only matter to a subset of users, but it does matter to them.
And I'm glad you don't find the ads invasive; I have another account on LJ besides the obvious one, and it's not paid/perm, and I find the ads horribly obtrusive. (Especially the time I hit one that violated the rules and talked at me. Ugh.) So do some others, I think.
no subject
This is from the pre-beta wiki, but it mentions some things that are different: http://wiki.dwscoalition.org/notes/Dreamwidth_changes_from_LJ
I think the plan to ultimately integrate data from your other sites (if you want it to) is also a huge part of this. (And, since Dreamwidth supports cross-posting now, I can maintain a presence on both sites pretty easily.)
As are cultural differences, to some degree, in how the sites are run. That will only matter to a subset of users, but it does matter to them.
And I'm glad you don't find the ads invasive; I have another account on LJ besides the obvious one, and it's not paid/perm, and I find the ads horribly obtrusive. (Especially the time I hit one that violated the rules and talked at me. Ugh.) So do some others, I think.