Alex, from one business man to another. In my beliefs, I do not like mergers or buyouts. But it is up to you, Alex. Sure a half million dollars sounds great deal but there are factors to considers. Like others in here have a good point and I knew that. Businesses today want to buy out someone else and change name and format or shut it all since they are your main competitors. My business will never be for sale and it will be passed down as promised.
There are factors to think about with half million dollars. Please consult with an accountant/CPA and lawyers with experise in mergers, buyouts, and taxes. Usually with that amount of money, they are ususally in half. You might walk home with just a quarter of a million dollars and rest to lawyers and taxes. If you invest in other things or donations, your taxes will be reduced.
Alex, look into your heart and know what is more important: money or the Deaf Community? If I were you, I would turn down their offer flatly. Alex, wake up and smell the coffee. Alldeaf.com may not be the same after the buyout.
If you want your business to be protected from them, it is called, "White Knight" in business term. That means another business buys a partnership or half of your business and you can scare off that relay service business. What does the relay service has to do with this forum??? That is another factor to think about, man. You should know it may confuse your members here as compared to their business since people will think that relay company that is offering you money for your business is just a relay service.
Hypothecially you sell your business to the relay service, deaf people will more likely just use the relay, not the forum. Like Google is just a search engine, or IBM a computer business. Or FALSO CREATIVITY is a design firm. Google may owns YouTube.com but we all do not think that way. If that relay service drops the domain name or change it to relay, then the deaf might get confused. alldeaf.com has been established as a deaf forum. That other service called Deafchat.com is for chat room and most of us know that for a fact. That is my point here. You have a reputation and a good one to provide us a forum to discuss any issues of the day.
There is another factor they may not said it in here. Deaf people might find out who is that service and may not like that service so they may not want to come back and establish another deaf forum or forums! That could reduce the number of members. It ususally happens in many businesses.
Please think it over or even pray if you have to. I do not know your religion but it doesnt hurt to try! Look over all factors. NOT about the money. OK?
Remember, from a deaf business man to another deaf business man.
That is my bet! LOL
u get them good one 
this time because you did stir up a thing or two in this thread. I've been getting a lot of IMs and e-mails from a lot of members asking me if it was the real deal or not? I didn't even know what the hell was going on but thanks for the headache! 
Sorry about that, girl!!