Of course they are doing better. Their mods don't bully their members.
lol pretty much this. They don't delete threads just because is criticizing their favorite character or couple.
I think narutoforums is bigger by now, and has more engaged members to discuss the series without trolling and with more freedom to express their own opinion, criticizing and praising any character. It has fewer trolls and fewer cliques and member elitism as well.
That aside, I think narutobase is a better place to discuss general non-anime related topics. It has less social justice warriors and the opinions are a bit more diverse and interesting. People understand ironies and have more humour sense, though sometimes became kindergarten -this is not bad at all, i kinda like it to chill. That's it.
I think it depends on what you are looking for. However, it is expecents that the forums are less busy, since the series is over, and nothing is happening in Boruto. Even it it was better before, I wouldn't consider narutobase or narutoforums dead, and much less tumblr.