Could it be a link next to 'home, help + forum' some users may find it difficult to find.

I think the intention is that you use the help section first to atempt to solve your problem, and the contact us is then a last resort.
It must be difficult for admin to get through all the contact-us mails so better to avoid ones that can easily be answered generically.

well it just seems lately that the answer to everything is "use the contact us " ...i think the idea makes sense.

What _brighteyes_ said is kinda where i'm coming from, but can see your point