We use skype around here, mostly for the podcasts we have used in the past.
The only thing I don't like about this is the fact that when you actually use another social network/program like skype, facebook, reddit anything that you can use to communicate or chat with each other it takes traffic away from the site.
If we are having problems getting people to stay active on the forums imagine if we start using skype or another chat system.
I rather you guys use the forums to communicate with each other and keep traffic here.
I understand your reasoning for using skype however.