No xoB,
let us start the thank-fest! :P
Appropriate amount: that's entirely up to you... I always think of this sort of thing as similar to public broadcasting as far as that sort of thing goes.
Despite my nice house, which is basically my only investment, I am basically living on half a salary while I play the entrepreneur game. Donations have seen that I have the luxury of never giving this up, always being able to keep it going and now working to make it better, etc. It is a hobby on my behalf but also a labor of love and of need. I love you folks, I need you folks.