Depends on how you measure it, compared to MySpace, LJ is better in many ways but people switching give up on LJ a bit. Compared to Vox, there are strengths and weaknesses. Don't use other 'network' sites except Librarything.

But compared to other blogging platforms, specifically Wordpress (both .org and .com) and blogger, LJ is confusing.

More importantly, new users find it confusing, and without new users the site dies. It's already dying.

Also, I have my own little metric of 'how easy is it for me to do what I want', and while it's got easier (Horizon and the NavBar), I still need to have links on my sidebar to get me to a few places, and even then I forget which bit of which place I need for certain tasks.

One thing Vox has got that LJ hasn't is an easy, workable search function, including by tag. I can find Vox posts about, for example, Torchwood, really easily, but LJ is a pain. Yes, they're working on it, and have a new staffer for the purpose, but it should've been done years ago.

Um, sorry, ranting a bit, apologies, I'll stop now...