Curious , do American Basketball forums have threads on Golf Course Architecture ?
Do cricket forums? How about football (soccer) forums? I personally enjoy seeing cricket or rugby threads on here occasionally, it helps to put life in perspective, I think.
OT threads help to foster a strong sense of community. If you don't like 'em, ignore 'em, and certainly don't start 'em or post in 'em.
I'm with Mike - I'd only ban OT threads about OT threads.
MOST IMPORTANTLY (and this is not at all directed at you, Brian): If you're not contributing to the actual architecture threads - and I mean starting interesting threads, sharing interesting information, something more than just little quips here and there - you really don't have much of a right to complain about the lack of focus, imho. There are plenty of architecture threads that die quickly because people don't share, for whatever reason. Start helping out on those and maybe I'll take the criticism more seriously.
EDIT: I just counted a whopping 4 out of 35 first page threads that I'd characterize as OT. Not exactly a sign of the apocalypse.