Our Smelser / Smeltzer (and other variations) surname project has been at FTDNA since March 2006.   We are a small project of about 40 participants.    I have also managed the Lyddon / Lydon project which has only had 4 or 5 participants during that same time frame.    I use FTDNA exclusively at the moment for listing our results.  I've considered WorldFamilies but have not yet taken the time to set up our own web site outside FTDNA tools .   I have however reserved domain names to be used in the event we one day choose to do so.    I've NEVER had an issue with FTDNA that wasn't resolved in a timely fashion to my satisfaction (or answered politely to show the error of my thinking).    I have also participated in the SMGF project AND have uploaded my personal data to GeneTree.    I've been pleased with their "free" model but I go into it knowing the limitations of Sorenson reporting, the expectation of additional costs to GeneTree if I choose those services , and combine those expectations with an ever increasing understanding of how their project operates.   I've "learned" how to find information by studying how the various systems operate.   Much of that learning has come from watching and occassionally participating in conversations about the topic (and others of course) on forums like this one and by simply exploring the databases themselves .   I'm also pleased that FTDNA does maintain y-search.   Projects like SMGF and y-search have helped us on a couple of issues BUT the FTDNA project combined with our focus on targeted contacts with family lines whose origins we can't figure out via paper trail has resulted in huge gains in the understanding of our family history.   We have solved age old genealogy questions ...... many of which were here-to-fore unknown previously ..... even as q uestions .... and have generated many more questions yet to be answered!    We all know that a ssumptions have a nasty way of getting in the way of fact.   And then the assumptions become truths to too many.   Our projects have not been immune to that process by any stretch of the imagination.    Therefore, g enetic genealogy is a great tool for all of us ... of that I have no doubt.  Well done it allows us to positively replace assumptions with much improved  information generally rising to the level of fact .   I'm very pleased with the way that FTDNA has provided tools and substantial leadership in this endeavor.   However,  I do like to see the competition from other sources as well.   Besides, the cross checking of data never hurts and often  helps to keep all competitors honest.