Facebook, You Tube, and Twitter have their uses and their places. However, in a niche a forum creates a sense of community that other media does not. Unfortunately, it looks like Char Broil, like many companies, is being swayed by the "new" social media and not looking at the communities they had and can build.
I am an "n" of 1 - but if I had to interact with LTBBQ on Facebook or Twitter - I would not be doing it nearly as often, and eventually probably not at all... It is important to understand who your customers and prospects are - for Char Broil's sake I hope theirs are Gen Y.