In order to motivate myself to be more active on dA, I've bought a subscription. I'm a stingy old asshole, so this is probably the best means of motivation I can get.
But, as an unexpected bonus, subscriptions make dA more fun! I am about a million times more likely to check out deviations on my watchlist with the thumbnails, and the heady-footy journal things are fun. Don't know if mine are going to work right but eh...
Anyway, subscriptions=great big bag of fun.