while ive bought 2 playboys in my life, and yes one was for the article (jesse ventura interview) but my father bought them occasionally, but then also bought the better ones too.
that said, i've always felt that the articles in playboy were kinda outta touch with alot of their readers. i recall the xmas editions being full of gadgets that middle aged men might want but could never afford. awesome stereo systems, pool tables in the shapes of letters with crystal clear pool balls. even if theyve changed their content, it cant possibly be any better than half a dozen men catered websites found on the net that already feature SFW content. I just dont see how playboy expects to capitalize on this market when its been imho thoroughly tapped already for various ages at that.
playboy made the smart move of moving its pictorial work to the internet, but the amount of pictorials sites on the net, let alone sheer porn that can satisfy just about any fetish/desire kinda means they are late to the game and im not sure the playboy moniker is enough to get people to visit, even once.