If you examine this forum closely (and maybe a bit cynically!) it's a selling aid for AS. With a product that works well and a band of supporters standing around cheering on the forum AS cannot go wrong. It's a continually updating mass of testimonials praising their product.
A new subscriber comes along, speed-reads the FAQs and has a question. No need to bother AS Support (they're far to busy! ) when they can post the query here and instantly get 10 answers plus some animated Gifs. Thus, the new user gets a lovely warm feeling inside (until they end up paying $5000 for a $700 item of course!) and AS saves on their wage bill.
My point - why would AS want to invest anymore time in help or FAQs when the forum does the work for them.
Q. Is this thread an thinly-veiled advert for Cameras site?