Search is not an efficient tool for gaining information on web forums.
Search is not an efficient tool period, but that's another point.
Not to mention, while you may be search-prone, others may not be. I find that computer users fall into two different categories when it comes to search, those that do it, and those that do not. In my experience it is generally a pretty strict divide, too. Nielsen's early studies show a divide as well, just not so 'strong' as I have seen in more recent experience ( hxxp: www. useit. com/alertbox/9707b. html ).
It is possible that early successes/failures in internet use help define whether a user is a searcher or not but I've read nothing to really make a connection or not. I personally prefer to link scan myself, especially on web forums. By searching you are exposing yourself to *everything*, not just relevant materials. I am not sure if you have noticed or not, but this forum contains posts from 2006. Half the time I use search here, my results are far outdated and/or of questionable integrity. The other half is completely unrelated to the goal of my search.
So while you may be a search-fu master, not everyone is. Not everyone understands the dynamics of board-specific searching or what exact keywords to use like you may. So when they type "Asteroid mining" into search and get, literally, an entire page of campaign AAR posts it only disheartens them from trying to search again (except, as pointed out, THIS post is now number one on the results, so the OP actually did a service to the forum by posting). Not to mention search result success drops drastically with each iteration of the query (51% success on first try, 32% on second try, down to 18% on third try). But that is aside, considering most users don't try a second time.
I suggest that in the future instead of making a pointless post saying 'use search' that ultimately benefits no one but does alienate the OP, you should consider just answering the question. Then your answer will help saturate further potential searches AND link scan attempts. . .