In every forum I've ever participated in there have been multiple times where people want to "talk to people they know" about something that's not germane to the main forum in question.  Trying to cut off these sorts of conversations never works, period, so having a place where they can occur, or be moved to if someone accidentally posts what was meant as a chat to the main forum is great!

It's always handy to have a place to ask cyber-friends and acquaintances random questions that your gut tells you that they might have the answer to.

Brian