This seems to be an appreciation topic, there are a number of heads I wish to count here, in no particular order:
Prometheus: I've already said it to everybody and to him, but he is our DDP man. I would have given up on DDP if it weren't for him and his guide but once I realized that even a superhuman isn't perfect(aka the idea that a superplayer can poop out runs with very few mistakes), I felt much better. It got frustrating and once somebody told me "well yea of course those guys in the DDP and DFK superplays didn't do that on their first go, they probably had to restart countless times" I felt better and learned to not beat myself up so hard when I can't get a good run in a game, especially if I happen to be streaming. I eventually 2-ALL'd DDP a couple years ago because of his stories and my desire to finally finish the game that I suffered and toiled on, the game that I played for so long I don't know how many hours I spent on it, the game that broke me into the shmup genre. I don't play it much anymore and it's difficult to build up the desire to keep at this one when there is so much out there that I still need to play, but Prom inspired me to never give up on the one that meant the most to me.
Aquas, Softdrink, Soda, any other STGWeekly guys: Awesome hosts and for STGWeekly, I'm not always around to see them but I've commented in a few and love doing so. Always fun to tune in if I can and just fun overall to get a perspective from someone proficient in a particular game.
Jaimers: Our shmups forum superplayer. You are something else, once I see you latch on to something I only know that victory is a matter of time. I wish we had more people like you running around so you didn't snowball everyone in tournaments
Drake, Erppo, Jaimers, Sapz, Aliquantic, saucy, Ratikal, Bananamatic: Small little group I met originally because of STGT 2011. That ignited some serious shmup passion inside my soul and I got to meet these guys shortly after. STGT 2011 and 2012 were tons of fun.
Ratikal: The dude gave me his copy of Ginga Force :O I haven't played it in a while but the experience I had the first couple weeks was immaculate. Awesome game and thank you, can't believe you gave me your only copy. Also woot STGT 2011 \o
Chempop: Pretty cool guy and PCB fanatic, which respect I and scoff at the same time...I don't have the money and determination to get a cab and PCBs. My other main partner in STGT 2011 \o
Norty, Kaiser, Cagar: Interesting number of people here, playtesting random stuff or having long random talks about whatever. Cool guys. And for the record Kaiser if you happen to see this, your timing on pinging me on shmups irc is uncanny, I'm never there when you do x_x.
Bananamatic: Your continued Ketsui pursuits. I'm not very passionate about the game anymore but I really hope you get at least the Tsuujou 2-ALL that you want, assuming that hasn't happened yet. Also your sense of humor compared to the rest of the bunch.
Nereid: Cool guy. Love the IIDX twitch streaman as well :3
Trap15: Your arranges and wacky choice of shmups to play, your ketsui arrange indirectly lead to my eventual Ura 2-ALL as it sort of helped make some things in normal Ketsui seem tamer after lots of Arrange play, so for that I thank you.
beatsgo, CStarFlare: For random tidbits in helping with my random Kaikan addiction.
and last but not least, System11, for we wouldn't be here on this forum without him maintaining it and throwing money at keeping it running.
It's been fun gentlemen and lady?(you know who you are) To the future! *toast glass*