I guess I'll just start hanging out in other avatar communities then, though I have yet to come across one as extensive as Gaia. I'm not all that active in Gaia anyway, I would come for certain periods of time, then disappear due to either gaming or real life issues. But still, I would be quite disappointed, but I'll live. It's a part of life anyway.
When I spend cash on sites like these, I don't view it as a waste of money. In fact, I view it as something I've paid for for my enjoyment, and if I've enjoyed myself on it, then I feel the money is quite worth it, even if the site closes down.