Good luck Martin and my best wishes.
Way back before 2001 IP forum was free, and indeed need add on to make it shine, but the design was clean so I use it, do not know when it start to be a payment software but I recall I registered here 2002. (yes it say here 2005 but that @Matt fault by combine my 2 accounts) 🙂
The marketplace did not come that time, most of my modifications was custom one.
IPS still great and shine with it support personals, some left, some are here and some join lately, they are great and that to my point of view worth it all. I am not a cloud customer, but self hosted one.
IPS like a woman, you do not maybe love or hate, but they are no escape.