I love Nerd Poker and I listen to it every week. I think everyone involved in it is immensely talented. I think Blaine Capatch is one of the funniest humans in the world.
I do think that the podcast has changed into something else after Sark left and that the D&D aspect of the show is now more of a backdrop. I feel the show may be better served by a hardcore D&D rules nerd to DM with an iron fist, even if he/she is technically not a "friend" of Brian.