Happy Hive Birthday. I think we will be around for another five years. More and more people seem to be coming around about hive as a community, or several communities. A concept that takes time and effort, and you have certainly put the time and effort into helping make more people aware of the community aspects of Hive.
The "several communities" is what is going to get very interesting in the future of Hive I believe - there is a network and compound effect that will come into play to make them very valuable :)
I think so also, I think the front ends will play the part of States or Countries, then we get a few communities up and running very well. I just hope it does not devolve into a divide and conquer thing. We see enough of that in off-line life.