Well, I started out venturing into SNinE when I first had concerns about my eldest ds. Yes, it was quiet, but I was listened to, advised and ultimately directed to the SNChildren board - which is where I suddenly found immeasurable support and understanding.
The folks on the SN boards have helped me navigate both the assesment and educational sides of identifying what the issue was with ds and from there helped carry me through making sure he is properly supported.
He is another one who doesn't struggle academically, in fact he is extremely capable academically, but without additional support he simply wouldn't be able to access the curriculum and achieve what he is capable of.
Conversely, a year or so ago I discovered ds2 had a disability that we had been unaware of, but increasingly causes him lot of pain and distress. Again, the folks on the SN boards helped me work out what the problem was and seek out the right referrals for a formal dx to be made.
Ds2 is not on the SEN register at school, but, he does have a care plan and the school keeps some of his medication to administer when necessary. He has also had medical professionals visit the school to advise staff on things like appropriate seating and equipment. Without that equipment (albeit fairly minor in the big scheme of things) and his needs being taken into account on a daily basis he would struggle to achieve - in fact his grades rapidly improved once his disability was identified and properly supported. Yet for some reason he is not considered to have SEN or SN according to school records, but is dealt with under a different heading, so-to-speak. 
So I have both a child who has a neurological condition that requires a lot of support in order for him to meet his potential and another who has a physical disability, also requiring support and consideration by the school.
Essentially they both have a disability and they both have SNs, by my reckoning, based on the fact they both need support to access learning effectively they both also have SENs - apparently the educational system disagrees though.
Personally, I think the system we have works - it did for me. For those who are only just starting to realise their child may have issues (regardless of what they are) that need education support the SNinEducation board is probably where they would head first. If they're anything like I was, they might not be ready to jump headlong into the acceptance of their child's condition that comes with opting into the SN boards. The SNinEducation board is quiet, perhaps that's where we could make a difference, if we all made a bit more effort to check the board and reply to some of the threads, especially as we would then be more able to help gently redirect some of the posters to the SN boards if needs be.
As for the comments re bullying and cliqueyness on the SNBoards, it's something I have never experienced, having been on there for several years now. There will always be differences of opinions on every board and by it's very nature, the SN Board has a lot of exhausted, stressed parents on there who at one time or another may be feeling very sensitive, so it's never going to be plain sailing. I have to say though, that the vast majority of posters are genuinely lovely, caring people who give up their (often extremely precious) time to support others. Newcomers are always welcomed and whilst many of us have different beliefs and approaches to the care of our dcs, that doesn't get in the way of the genuine support on offer.
I would hate to think that someone might read one of the posts accusing the board of being cliquey and bullying and choose not to post, thereby missing out on such a wealth of knowledge, advice and support and would encourage anyone with any concerns about their dc/s to give it a try. I have never regretted it for a second.