I understand how you arrived at this, but IMO it simply won't work. Can you name the most frequented club on the board? I can't. I can't name any club.
That alone is meaningless but PPP serves a purpose beyond what has been discussed here. IIRC it started or at least gained momentum when politics started being discussed on the main board. Before long it became easy to say "take it to PPP" or simply transfer a thread. At this point most people know from the get go. With no PPP or ability to find a club, you seriously don't think someone will try to post something about all cops being terrorists after some controversial future event? How does that work with clubs it no PPP? Do you honestly think that in 2020 that won't happen? I'd say it actually still does. You have pretty clear rules about Covid on the main board but IMO people try to subtly work in partially political takes there. I've been annoyed by some and sucked in.....sorry, I'm trying to not be sucked in. Shut down this board and you'll be back to square 1. It might not all come back day one, but it will come back to at least some extent.
I agree that it's difficult and I really don't think I know the answer but I'm being honest when I say I don't think the club thing will work long term and that removing PPP will ultimately harm the main board.