a) that attend regularly?

b) that read through (or listen to/watch depending on the delivery format) a complete on-line sermon regularly?

c) that are paying attention solely to what is going on in the service?

This is the key thing.

If you get bored off-line, you're still sitting in the service till it's done. You may be fidgeting and if enough people are, the service may be shorter, but you're still there. The distraction and short attention span factor of on-line crowds would be difficult to overcome.

Now that cell phones and other interactive devices or games are so prevalent, distractions are beginning to be a factor in off-line churches as well. There is still social pressure to someone playing a cell phone game or sending text messages in the pew beside you versus bringing up a game or splitting the browser window and researching another topic while an on-line sermon is on – even if you stick around for the entire presentation.

Relationships can be real whether on or off-line. When any relationship is severed, there is real loss. I do think that it is easier to have misunderstandings on-line than off-line. It is also easier to reach out to people you would never otherwise see. So there are advantages and disadvantages.

Relationships are what hold any body of people together through the good times and bad. I do feel that there is less commitment in an on-line setting than off. It is easier to check out.

There are other aspects of community to consider. We just enjoyed an adult and kid's Christmas program. We went to several weddings this summer. On the flip side, how does an on-line community handle funerals? You can broadcast them on-line, but there is still the need for a real facility.

Let's see if I waited long enough.

I think for the most part it's relationships that keep people at a offline church when things get tough or the church does something they don't agree with. If they have good friends in the church they stick it out, if they don't they leave. I would suspect it's not much different with an online church.

Sounds like you doubt that people can form relationships online which are deep enough that terminating them would be a real emotional loss.